Spain 2023 Part 4: Culture in Córdoba

​Córdoba was the smallest of all the cities I went to on this trip, which was one of the reasons why I enjoyed it. Walking around this city reminded in many ways of visiting another city I love, Puerto Vallarta. You can see elements of where PV's architectural influence originated.

I spent two days in Córdoba, though the first day I had to do laundry and work. When I arrived to my hostel, I was awestruck at how beautiful it was. You could tell it was a newer place. The venue even had a gorgeous courtyard to hang out in. The crowd was considerably different, which included multiple families with little kids.

My second day in Córdoba was when I was really able to explore. The first stop I made was at the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos (Place of the Christian Monarchs). I couldn’t believe it was just 5 euros to get in, and no huge lines. I really loved this one, and you could walk up to the top of the castle for some incredible views. Like the Alcazar in Seville, they have a beautiful garden here.

My second stop was the Mezquita, which was originally a mosque created in the 700s and was later converted into a cathedral in the 1200s. However, this mosque-cathedral still has original mosque decor as well. It’s a huge space! It’s kind of amazing to me to think about how these incredible landmarks have survived for so long. I mean, the original mosque portions are over 1,300-years old! That’s incredible. I know it’s not the oldest landmark on the planet but still very cool. The Mezquita costs 13 euros to get in, and while there were more people here, there wasn’t a long wait in the line to get tickets, and the line to enter once you had your ticket went quickly. Overall, though, Córdoba was much less busy with tourists. There are some, but it wasn’t nearly as packed as Granada or  Seville.

My third stop was the Synagogue of Córdoba. This synagogue is actually the only one in Córdoba and is just 1 of 3 left in Spain after the expulsion of the Jewish population in 1492. I mean, it was nice to be able to see some remnants of Spain’s Jewish community but also really depressing to think about how that community was practically erased because of actions in the past. 

After that, I tried to stop for a glass of wine at a bar outside in a plaza, but there were so many smokers. Seriously, what are the stats on lung cancer in Spain?

After finishing my glass of wine at the smokestack bar, I walked along the ancient Roman bridge in Córdoba, which first constructed in the 1st century B.C. At the end of the bridge is Calahorra Tower. This fortified gate was created to protect Córdoba and now is a museum. You can get in for 4.50 euros, and an audio tour is included with the price. While the museum was pretty neat, my favorite part was heading up to the top of the tower for some spectacular 360-degrees views of the city. And while all the other sites I had seen in Spain thus far were full of other tourists, miraculously, I was the only person up there when I went.