One Perfect Day in Córdoba

Of all the places I visited during my time in Seville, Córdoba was probably my favourite (with the possible exception of the Pueblos Blancos). It’s the prettiest, most walkable and most interesting city in Andalúcia, in my humble opinion. At only a couple of hours train ride from Seville, it makes for the perfect daytrip. Interestingly, in the 10th century, Córdoba was the largest city in Europe. This was at a time when it was a centre of learning and culture, and was the capital city of a Muslim empire encompassing most of modern-day Spain and Portugal.

The blending of the Islamic history and the Christian period that immediately followed is obvious all over the city. One need look no further than the city’s top attraction, the Mezquita to see this. Wander the streets, take in the sights and smells and enjoy one perfect day in Córdoba with these amazing places.

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Jewish Quarter

If you’re coming from the train station, your path to the city centre will lead you under the Puerta de Almadovar into the warren of narrow (and I mean narrow) streets of Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter. For one all-too-brief period in the city’s history, Muslim, Jewish and Christian people co-existed peacefully. In this area, you can find the Synagogue – which was unfortunately closed when we were there – the only synagogue in the city to escape destruction when that peace came to an end. While no longer a place of worship, it is usually open to the public and has the most beautiful stone decoration on the front. When exploring the Jewish Quarter, look carefully around each corner to discover little photogenic arches and courtyards of fruit trees just crying out to be explored.

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Mezquita

Córdoba’s crowning jewel, the Mezquita is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. This unique building has quite the storied history. While officially the city’s cathedral, it is still referred to as the Mezquita, the Spanish for mosque. Dating from the 8th century, the mosque was the centerpiece of the city until the Christian Reconquest of Córdoba in 1236, when it was converted to a church.

The highlight of the building is the candy stripe arches that seem to go on forever. The red and white stripes fill the low room in every direction. Wandering through them, even with the crowds around me (because this church gets very busy), I felt transported to another time.

But the wonder doesn’t stop there. Continue past the arches into the central nave of the Mezquita and you’ll find yourself in a lofty, white space filled with light. This part definitely fits the description of cathedral, and was added during the Renaissance era in the 16th century. It’s a huge contrast to the gloomy area surrounding it, and it’s wonderful to see the two major parts of the building’s history still co-existing together.

When visiting the Mezquita, don’t forget to walk around the outside as well. The yellow stone and beautiful Moorish doorways are worth stopping to take a look at.

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The Streets of Córdoba

Calleja de las Flores is the famous street in the city, the tiny alley full of flowers popping up on social media all the time. But I’ll be honest – I didn’t take a single photo of it. Maybe the flowers weren’t in full bloom, but there weren’t any more of them than on any other street, and there was no natural light at all. The entire area surrounding the Calleja is just as pretty, and won’t have a queue of people waiting their turn for a photo. One of my favourite ways to explore a city is to wander the streets without a particular destination in mind, and the part of Córdoba immediately surrounding the Mezquita is perfect for that.

Templo Romano

I’m a sucker for ancient history, so if there’s ever a chance to see some old ruins, you can bet I’ll take it. So it’s no wonder that wandering through some winding streets, past cute cafes and medieval houses only to turn a corner and find myself facing down ancient temple columns rearing up to the sky, I was excited.

The temple has had some restoration so it’s not entirely authentic, but the foundations, pillars and some column details most certainly are. Discovered in the 1950s, this temple was large and clearly important during the Roman period in Còrdoba, and makes for a really cool contrast to the relatively modern buildings around it.

Roman Bridge

If a temple isn’t enough for you, then Còrdoba also has a bridge spanning the Guadalquivir for you. This bridge is one of the most popular sights in the city, and the crowds reflect that. Much of the Roman Bridge has been reconstructed over the centuries, but some of the arches are still the originals, and are over two thousand years old. Leading from near the Mezquita to the impressive Calahorra Tower on the other side, the bridge is a really nice place to get a sense of this part of the city, and watch the river flowing gently by.

Jardines de la Victoria

You’ll likely walk through this long stretch of greenery on your way from the train station into the city centre, but if you haven’t taken any time there before now, I recommend finding a bench or a spot of grass and relaxing for a while before getting your train. With large fountains, birds and locals enjoying the outdoors, it’s the perfect place to end your day in Córdoba.

Want to stay longer in the city? Here are some budget accommodation options in Córdoba!

Have you ever been to Córdoba or the Andalucian region? Where would you go for one perfect day?

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