The attractive Plaza de las Cañas, in which the traditional games of the same name are held, the Convent of La Piedad and the Shrine of El Socorro are all on the way to the emblematic Plaza de la Corredera, which has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest, The square is famous for its porticoed gallery over which stand the casas de Doña Maria Jacinto – medieval houses – the old jail, and the casa de Corregidor (the chief magistrate’s house). Near to Plaza de San Pedro is a Parish Church of the same name, which is in a mixture of gothic, renaissance and baroque styles. On the way to the Plaza de los Aguayo there are beautiful buildings such as the Church of Regina, the proto-gothic Church of La Magdalena, the Church of El Carmen -which contains an altarpiece by Valdes Leal-the Casa de los Caballeros de Santiago (the Knights of St. James' House) and the Shrine of Los Santos Martires. This brings to the banks of the River Guadalquivir, next to the Molino de Matros mill.
The Christian Quarter.
With the Christian conquest led by Fernando 3rd, the appearance of Caliphs´ Cordoba changed. Soon new quarters, which took their names from various parishes set up in the city by the monarch also known as “The Saint,” were added to the Moorish medina and districts.
The San Andrés Quarter.
The traditional quarter of the silk embroiderers, San Andres retains part of its original Andalusi layout, with a harmonious blend of religious buildings, such as the Convent Church of San Pablo, the Church of San Andres, and the Convent of Santa Marta; secular buildings such as the Casa de los Luna and the Palace of Los Villalones; and valuable vestiges of the past such as the 1st century Roman Temple, which adjoins the Town Hall, and retains some of its original Corinthian capitals.
The San Lorenzo Quarter
The best religious effigies of Cordoba's Easter celebrations are taken out for a procession through the streets of San Lorenzo, passing by important monuments such as the churches of San Rafael or del Juramento, San Lorenzo, the Church Hospital of Jesus Nazareno, the Church of Nuestra Senora de Gracia, behind which are the remains of the Marrubial walls, dating from the Almoravid period.
The Santa Marina Quarter
Also constructed in the 13th century, Santa Marina is the largest quarter in the city which dates from the late middle ages. Its typical taverns, which serve traditional food, have become improvised meeting places for bullfighting and flamenco enthusiasts. Access to the quarter is by climbing the Cuesta de San Cayetano hill thorugh the Puerta de Colodro, a gate which was the original entrance of the La Ajerquia wall. Other places which are well worth visiting include: the Convent Church of San Jose, the Church of Santa Marina, the Convent of Santa Isabel de los Angeles, the Convent Church of San Agustin, the Palace of Viana, and the monument to the Great Manolete.
Around Las Tendillas
The route covering the surroundings of the popular Plaza de las Tendillas has a monumental character and offers visitors the possibility of discovering the most authentic and traditional Cordoba. We begin in Plaza de Colon and the Jardines de la Merced gardens, passing by the Tower of La Malmuerta and the Old Convent of La Merced - today the County Council - and arriving at the Plaza de Capuchinos, a square known as Plaza del Cristo de los Faroles which contains the Covent Church of the Santo Angel. From the top of the Cuesta del Bailib hill, which divides the upper and lower parts of the city, it is possible to see the beautiful plateresque doorway of the Casa del Baili'o; and if we continue walking, we can admire the Torres Cabrera Palace, the Cistercian Convent, the Circulo de la Amistad Cultural Centre, and the Plazas of Las Capuchinas and San Miguel. Nearby are the Plaza de las Tendillas, and de la Companfa. The former stands on the site formerly occupied by shops - hence its name - and has an unusual clock which strikes the hours with the sound of soleares, flamenco pieces played on a guitar. The latter was formerly in the heart of the medina and today contains the churches of El Salvador and Santo Domingo de Silos and the Santa Catalina College, where Luis de Gongora studied.
Taking Calle Gondomar we come to Avenida del Gran Capitan. Further along are the Great Theatre, and the Church of San Hipolito. Walking past the Jardines de la Agriculture and the Botanical Gardens, we arrive at the Roman Mausoleum and the remains of the amphitheatre, which were discovered recently.
Madinat Al-Zahra, The Caliphs' Treasure
8 km from Cordoba are the remains of the beautiful Moorish city of Madinat al-Zahra, one of the finest examples ofcaliphal art. Its construction was begun in 936 by Abd al-Rahman III with the money he inherited from the favourite alZabra Declared a National Monument in 1923, Madinat al-Zahra took 25 years to built and declined rapidly as a result of political feuds and instability. Thus, before it was a century old, the city was wrecked by Berber soldiers. Over the succeeding centuries its ruins were plundered repeatedly in search of materials for the construction of palaces, convents and churches. Evidence of the former wealth and splendour of this palatine city surrounded by gardens can be found in a building discovered in 1944, which was Abd al-Rahman 3rd's throne hall and was designed in Syrian and Byzantine styles by Cordoban master builders.