City Break Cordoba – Costa Blanca Homeowners

Living in the Costa Blanca gives us so much opportunity to travel around and see other parts of Spain for a change of scenery. Cordoba is a fascinating city and capital of the province with the same name, with mixed heritage about a 6-hour drive away from the Costa Blanca.

A Wonderous City

The unique history that has shaped the city of Cordoba includes influences from the Romans, Visigothic, Muslim and Christians occupations of the peninsula. This mix has resulted in impressive architecture, flavoursome local dishes and vivacious festivals. Spain has had so many different occupiers that each area has its own unique character so you will find something new, different and interesting when you come to visit Cordoba from the Costa Blanca.

Mezquita

A site you must see here is the mesmerizing and inspiring Mezquita which was originally a Visigothic church. Later it became a mosque during the golden age of Islamic rule after which a Christian cathedral was built within the walls. This fusion of history and architecture with its columns, arches and stained-glass windows are incredibly impressive and nothing like any building we find in the Costa Blanca.

Jewish Quarter

The Juedría is a great place to take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets enjoying the pretty flower adorned houses and hidden courtyards. Boutiques and tapas bars can be found around every corner and the Synagogue is one of the few remaining places of worship for Jews in Spain, although in the Costa Blanca we are lucky enough to also have one in Benidorm although it is not as old having been establish in the 1960s.

Roman Cordoba

Most places throughout Europe and beyond have evidence of Roman occupation and Cordoba is no exception. The buildings from this period of time are very well-preserved here and, particularly interesting and magnificent, is the Roman Bridge which crosses the Guadalquivir river. A boat trip along the river is a great way to view the bridge and other landmarks in a peaceful and relaxing way.

Delicious Cuisine

A Salmorejo is a cold tomato soup from this region which is particularly refreshing and Flamenquin is tenderloin of pork filled with Serrano ham and cheese. If you are visiting in the winter you might want to try a hearty Rabo de Toro (Oxtail Stew) and was down your meals with the local wine Montilla-Moriles which will complement the flavour of the food you select perfectly.

Festivals

Like most places in Spain Cordoba has a yearly calendar of Fiestas for everyone to enjoy and at the end of May each year the Fair in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (our Lady of Health) is definitely worth seeing. Plan your trip from the Costa Blanca to coincide with this Andalusian Fiesta where marquees are erected at the city’s fair ground, there is food, drink and music as well as streets filled with horse-drawn carraiges, flamenco dresses and Sevillana music and wine. The origins of the fair are derived from the old livestock market which is now held on the outskirts of the city.

Beyond the Walls

If you have time during your visit to venture outside of Cordoba´s city walls do explore the beautiful surrounding countryside and perhaps take a trip into the Sierra Morena mountains. The nearby town of Carmona is very interesting with evidence of human settlement which dates to prehistoric times and the impressive fortress Alcázar de la Reina Doña Leonor with imposing walls and courtyards and breathtaking views of the countryside.  Lucena is also worth visiting, sometimes referred to as the Pearl of Sefarad because of its Jewish heritage it is dominated by its castle, another attraction is the Museum of Sacred Art where a collection of religious artifacts and paintings are displayed. 

En-Route Back to the Costa Blanca

When you plan your journey try to include a stop at Jaén in the middle of the Andalucia’s olive groves, where some of the worlds finest olive oil is produced. This town fuses historical sites with natural beauty and is a great stopping point to admire this Andalusian town and visit their archaeological museum contains artifacts from Spain’s prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.

Conclusion

Spain is an incredible country so do find time to venture away from your home in the Costa Blanca and explore this amazing land with its history, diversity and charm.