"A Living Ancient Site" a Córdoba Travel Page by hquittner

Cordoba is three things: first, a modern medium-size industrial city, second an old well-established colorful community with good museums,monuments and special buildings, and third the site of an architectural wonder,the Mezquita (Cathedral).

After a day and overnight in Sevilla,our bus took us past Carmona (where we had stayed 20 years previously in a fine Parador) and Ecija and on to the South bank of the Guadalquivir with a broad view of the main city on the other side. The site was impressive with a Roman bridge and a south- ended defensive Calahorra Tower (of Muslim origin) ascending to the town embracing the Mezquita (and Church dome) and a defensive wall leading from an Alcazar westward. Also glimpsed was an ancient Arabic water wheel. We crossed a bridge and parked near the wheel and walked onward to the Mezquita where we were conducted on a detailed informative tour. Some respite was provided before and after the tour for shopping and travel related requirements. Then we were walked through the Juderia and back to the bus. It was now early afternoon and we were taken to an Inn on the edge of town and fed. Then back on the bus and past Antequera and Malaga to our home base in Torremolinos

The terrain in this area has developed remarkably in the 20 years between visits. Once varibly green with some grazing or barren, it is now teeming with regular orchards of almonds or olives (and some vines). The present brief brush with Cordoba did nothing to remind us of our previous visit when we stayed in a small inn on the south bank. We spent over a day and dined the first night in the Juderia and sampled its after dark ambience. The next day was easily filled with the many sights and was topped by the opening of the Feria whose participants invited us to partake.(quite different from a bus excursion in our later elderly life!)