Any visit to Cordoba will be first and foremost about the Mezquita, the enormous mosque-cum-cathedral that is one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture in the Western world. Its onyx, marble and granite columns crowned by double arches are a magnificent sight to behold.
Access to the mosque is through the Patio de los Naranjos, which, as the name suggests, is full of orange trees.
The belltower of Mezquita’s minaret is the dominating feature of the old quarter skyline.
The narrow passageways of the old Jewish Quarter that extends from Mezquita walls are an attraction in their own right. In fact, I do not believe there is a better preserved medieval Jewish Quarter anywhere else in Europe.
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We never managed to be in Cordoba during its early-May “festival of courtyards”, when many houses open their gates to the passerby to come inside and enjoy the beautiful tiles, columns, arches, and decorative flowers found in their courtyards. You can catch glimpses of that beauty through the closed gates at other times, and we even snapped a few examples on our walks around the old quarter.
Cordoba is a fascinating trip to different times!