Plan a trip to Cordoba

The city is located on a bend of the Guadalquivir River between the cultivated areas and cattle ranches of the Sierra de Cordoba range and the wheat fields and olive vineyards of the plains of Campania.

The Romans founded in Cordoba as a colony in 152 BC, and it became an important port city due to its strategic location. Spanish olive oil, wheat, and wine were shipped from here back to ancient Rome, and the Romans build the bridge – El Puente Romana- to cross the Guadalquivir River. Cordoba also became a significant cultural center during this period and the home of Latin writer and philosopher, Seneca, and his nephew, the poet Lucan.

In the 8th century, Córdoba fell into the hands of the Muslim invaders and became the capital of the Muslim kingdom in Iberian Peninsula – the Moorish “Al Andalus.” The golden age of Córdoba was in the 10th century during the reign of Abd al-Rahman III who assumed the title “Caliph of Spain.” It was the largest city in Western Europe and boasted magnificent mosques, beautiful patios, gardens, public baths, libraries, aqueducts, and universities. During this period of economic and cultural prosperity, there was an intellectual openness and tolerance which enabled the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities to live together and enrich each other.

The historic center of Córdoba has been declared a World Heritage Site, with the Cordoba Mosque as its masterpiece. In the course of its history, this famous structure transitioned from its beginnings as a church, to becoming a mosque, and then a cathedral.

Other highlights in the historic center are the Jewish Quarter (Judería de Córdoba) with its central synagogue and winding alleyways, the ancient Roman Bridge that is, today, a beautiful promenade that overlooks the city, and the many restaurants, bars, cafes, and Flamenco clubs that line the streets.