Córdoba is smaller and calmer than Seville, and for many people it's the most beautiful city in Andalucía. The old town is a maze of white streets with flowerpots on the walls, hidden patios and orange trees, and in the middle stands one of the most extraordinary buildings in the world: a mosque with a cathedral built inside it. Keep in mind that in July and August it's one of the hottest cities in Europe, often above 40 °C, so plan your sightseeing for the morning and evening.
History & How Long to Stay
Córdoba was already an important Roman city, Corduba, birthplace of the philosopher Seneca. After the Muslim conquest in 711, Abd al-Rahman I made it the capital of an independent emirate in 756 and began the Great Mosque in 785. In 929 Abd al-Rahman III declared the Caliphate of Córdoba, and in the 10th century it was one of the largest and most advanced cities in Europe, with libraries, street lighting and public baths; he also built the palace city of Medina Azahara. The philosophers Averroes and Maimonides were born here in the 12th century. In 1236 King Ferdinand III conquered the city, and from 1523 a Renaissance cathedral was built in the middle of the mosque. In 1486 Christopher Columbus met the Catholic Monarchs at the Alcázar to ask for support for his voyage. The Mezquita has been on UNESCO's list since 1984, extended to the historic center in 1994, the Patios Festival since 2012 and Medina Azahara since 2018.
How long to stay: 1 to 2 days. It also works as a day trip from Seville or Málaga, but you'll miss the evenings.
