Our Cordoba city walk starts at the Plaza de las Tendillas with its glamorous architecture of the last century. Here is the business district of Cordoba.
We walk south via Calle Jesus Maria, Calle Angel de Saavedra, Calle Blanco Belmonte and Calle Conde y Luque up to the Mezquita.
It is well known that the Moors were masters of artificial irrigation, but in the garden of the Mezquita you can very well take a closer look at the filigree canal systems. The plants only get as much water as they need, a challenge at the hot summer temperatures.
We circumnavigate the Mezquita in order to get a feeling for the external dimensions of this magnificent building.
Puerta de La Luna
Through the narrow lanes of the Jewish quarter, the Judería, we reach the Puerta de la Luna, the southern gate. In the cool courtyard of the gate is a nice restaurant where we enjoy a cool drink.
In front of the gate is a portrait of Abu al Walid Muhammad ibn Rushd Averroes, one of the most important Arab philosophers. Abu Yaqub Yusuf I, the 2nd Caliph of the Almohad, commissioned him to reorder and comment the works of Aristotle.
He was an advocate of the pure logic and fell in disgrace, because his view caused a conflict with the Islamic orthodox forces, the Caliph needed as a supporter for a campaign. He was banished and his works were burned.
However already 2 or 3 years later, the Caliph brought him as a doctor again to his court in Marrakesh, where he stayed until his death. The Islamic orthodoxy categorically refuse his works to this day.
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More InformationAlong the Calle Cairuan, that runs along the old city walls, we go tothe Puerta de Almodóvar. It is an impressive road, where water basins ensure coolness. On one side the street is flanked by the crenellated ramparts and the other side by traditional houses with pretty floral balconies.
Puerta de Almodóvar
The Puerta de Almodóvar is the last preserved town gate of the Arabic Age. It was restored in the 14th century.
In front we see a statue of Lucio Anneo Seneca the Younger of Cordoba. Known as philosopher, dramatist, naturalist, politician and as a stoic, he was one of the richest men in Rome, although he preached restraint in his philosophical writings. Yet his works are the most read in Rome.
As an educator and advisor of Emperor Nero, he tried to reduce its licentious acts. At the Pisonian Conspiracy 65 AD, a letter in which he criticized Nero, incriminated Seneca. Thus he came under suspicion of a conspiracy against Nero, who then send him the order to suicide and Seneca obeyed.
Juderia
Immediately after we pass by the city gate, we are again in the Jewish Quarter. Here we visit the synagogue. It was built in 1315 and is the only preserved synagogue in Andalucia after the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Only three synagogues out of more than 300 are left in Spain. The other two are in Toledo.
When part of the mortared wall fell down in 1884, the priest Don Mariano Párraga discovered the plasterwork on the walls. In 1885 it was declared national monument and the restoration started.
After pope Paul IV, in the Papabull Cum nimis absurdum, had given order to establish a Roman Ghetto in Rome, Cordoba followed this order soon. (See also Girona – Old jewish quarter and modern city and Rambla and Barrio Gotico)
Plaza de of La Corredera
We stroll to the Plaza de la Corredera, where we have experienced already wonderful Flamenco concerts.
After visiting the Mercado Sánchez Peña, we look for a place under the arcades. We end our Cordoba city walk with a cool drink.
Please read on > Good-bye Cordoba – First evening in Malaga
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