Learn: Cordoba - Goparoo

Introduction

With an ancient past dating back to 2000 years that includes occupancy by Romans and the Moors, Cordoba, a town in the Andalusia region of Spain, is a town straight out of an Arabian Nights fantasy. The town which became the Islamic capital under the rule of the Umayyade Caliphate in the 10th century is home to museums, parks and plazas that still hold traces of both Roman and Moorish architecture.

?The city is surrounded by undulating fields of olives and it should not come as a surprise that this ingredient dominates the local cuisine as well. Owing to its moderate weather and year round fiestas, Cordoba is a popular tourist spot in Spain.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, Cordoba counted about 3,000 mosques, the "Grand Mosque" or "Mezquita" was the central mosque. Upon the arrival of the Christians, the mosque remained mostly intact. In the middle, a cathedral was built, and the minaret was converted into a bell tower. The Mezquita retained its position as the most important place of worship. Take time to visit this magnificent mosque-cathedral and admire its pillars, ceiling, interior and beautifully decorated doors. The Mezquita mosque and cathedral claims to be the world’s third largest worship place

The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos – a castle covering about 4000 sq.mts of land houses a sarcophagus made of marble dating 3rd century. While the castle was built during Christian rule, the gardens of the castle are typically Moorish with their signature cascades and ponds and fragrant plants.

Other tourist attractions include the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de las Tendillas that has an arcade of shops selling souveneirs and other curios to tourists, the Puento Romano bridge to cross the Gualquivir River, Santa Maria del Soterraño Church, La Judería – Cordoba’s Jewish section that has a maze of narrow alleys and streets with ornate courtyards and squares including the one mentioned in the tale of Don Quixote, La Plaza del Potro.