The province of Cordoba belongs to the Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía. It is located in the south of the Peninsula, strategically placed next to the Guadalquivir river in the centre of Andalucia. This province covers 13,723 km2 and has around 770,000 inhabitants.

The Guadalquivir river crosses the province from East to West making two quite distinct areas. To the north there is the Sierra Morena mountains and plains and to the south there are agricultural areas and countryside. The southern part of the province borders with the Bética mountain range.

Cordoba is well connected to the rest of the country. It takes just 40 minutes to get to the nearest airport which is in Sevilla or Malaga. The AVE (Spain's high speed rail network) takes 40 minutes to get to Sevilla and just 1 hour and 40 minutes to Madrid. Cordoba is also very well connected to the rest of Spain by road. The N-IV connects it to the north of the Peninsula and the N-432 connects it to Granada and Badajoz. The N-331 takes you to Malaga and the A-92 to Murcia and Levante through the Puerto Lumbreras. The Autovía de Andalucía connects it to Sevilla.

Cordoba has a Mediterranean climate. The Sierra Morena mountain range protects it from storms from the Atlantic and any rain usually stops here. It is sunny 140 days of the year. Summers can get extremely hot and temperatures can reach 41.5ºC although winters are usually quite mild. Temperatures during the coldest month only drop as low as 9ºC. It only normally rains in spring and in autumn.

History of Cordoba

Cordoba has prehistoric origins although the first settlements here only date back to the Bronze Age to around the 8th and 9th centuries B.C. Due to its strategic location next to the Guadalquivir river Cordoba was a much coveted city and was occupied by the Greeks, Romans, the Visigothics, the Moors and finally by Christians.

In the 3rd century B.C it was occupied by the Romans. It prospered a lot in the 2nd century A.D under Claudio Marcelo who founded the city calling it Corduba and made it the capital of Hispania Ulterior. The city maintained its urban infrastructure, various buildings and an active commercial and cultural life from this period of occupation. The amphithteatre, 2 forums and various temples still remain from this period. The Visigothics occupied Cordoba when the capital moved to Hispalis. They remained until the 8th century when the Moors took over.

But its Roman and Visigothic legacy is eclipsed by the Al-Andalus culture which developed in all its splendor during the occupation by the Moors. Above all during the 10th century when Cordoba became the cultural centre for Europe. This is where philosophers, astrologers, doctors, intellectuals, mathematicians and poets from all over the world met.

Córdoba was also the bridge between the East and West during the middle ages. The caliphate of Cordoba was the most important representation of the power and culture of the Moors in the West. The Moors occupied Cordoba from the 8th to 1013 leaving an important legacy behind both in terms of historical monuments and culture. In 756 they took control of the city and created the independent emerite of Al-Andalus, with Abd al-Rahman I, who was responsible for rebuilding the city walls, the Alcázar and enlarging the mezquita. His son also enlarged Cordoba's mezquita and also Abd al-Rahman III. In 929 Cordoba was named the capital of the independant caliphate of Damasco and it became the religious, administrative and political headquarters of the Islamic kingdoms in the West. Under Alhakam II Cordoba reached its cultural pinnacle.

In 1013 the Caliphate of Cordoba fell and it became a taifa (small independent kingdom). In 1236 Fernando III, occupied the city, the reconquest of Cordoba began and the Christian faith became the dominant culture. Many churches, monasteries, convents, hospitals, palaces and mansions were built. A cathedral was also erected.

In the 16th century Felipe II built the Royal Stables because of his great interest in horses and the Puerta del Puente was built to honour him. However the Boubon administration (who were in charge of governing much of Spain) did not let Cordoba develop economically or recover and the city endured some hard times over several centuries. There were even worse times to come in the 19th century with the French occupation and the war of independence. Things started to improve with the building of the university which led to an increase in the city's population and economic growth.

In 1994 UNESCO declared the city's old part to be a world heritage site and this is why Cordoba is one of Spain's most visited tourist desintinations.

Things to do and see in Cordoba

Cordoba is a captivating city full of history. It's old part consists of narrow streets and ancient beautiful buildings, famous for their interior patios full of pots of brightly coloured flowers and fountains in the centre which are reminiscent of other times. There are two types of patios in Cordoba. There are the patios which belong to individual houses as described above or patios belonging to two houses where more than one family lives which have two floors and a shared balcony.

There are many things to do and see in Cordoba city and different ways you can do this. You can see the city riding in a coach pulled along by horses or hire a bike. You can go for a ride in a hot air balloon or see the city by plane if you want a bird's eye view. You can see the city by bus or you can simply walk around and soak up the atmosphere.

You are spoilt for choice for things to do in Cordoba. You can go to the theatre, to classical music concerts, visit museums, go to the aquatic park, go horse riding or play golf (there is a golf course on the outskirts of the city - Club de Campo de Córdoba) or visit Sportaventura or the Parque Periurbano Los Villares…

Gardens, Squares and Streets:

• Parque Zoológica (Zoo) - Avenida de Linneo, Tel: 957 20 08 07.
  
  
• Jardines de la Victoria (Victoria Gardens) - Avenida de la Victoria: This is the former site for the Feria de la Salud before it was moved to the Parque del Arenal. Here you have a 1930's pergola by Carlos Sáez de Santamaría built in a Neoclassic style which is now one of the most fashionable cafe's in the city and also used for temporary exhibitions.
  
  
• Jardines Juan Carlos I (Juan Carlos I Gardens) : These pretty gardens are located directly in front of the Vice-Chancellors office. There is a small lake with a bridge in the middle and a play area for children. It has become a popular meeting place.
  
  
• Jardines de la Merced o de Colón (Merced or Colon Gardens): The Merced convent is here hence the name given to these gardens.
  
  
• Plaza de Capuchinos and Cristo de los Faroles: Built in 1794 by Juan Navarro León this is one of the most beautiful squares in the city.

• Calleja de Flores: This is located in the neighbourhood known as the Judería, opposite the northern facade of the Mezquita. It is a small street which ends up in a small square decorated in a typical Cordoba style with lots of potted flowers and lanterns. You get a pretty view of the cathedral tower from here.

Things to buy in Cordoba:

The best things to buy in this city are hand made arts and crafts. You can get all sorts of things from jewellery, leather goods, ceramics, silver and gold handmade objects as well as excellent things to eat and drink: Wines, olive oils and cold meats.

Cordoba is famous for jewellery which is produced here as well as intricate gold and silver work. Clay Ceramics from Cordoba are well known for reproducing many of the designs made popular during the Moorish period.

What to Eat in Cordoba: Try the cold meats from the Pedroches area in the North of the province and also local lamb and pork (the pigs are fed only acorns). Ham, chorizo, morcilla (black pudding) are also excellent. There are also a lot of dishes based on game: wild boar, venison, rabbit, moufflon and partridge. Typical dishes from Cordoba are: Bull's tail, battered fried ham rolls, lamb stew, gazpacho, almond gazpacho, cakes, almonds and honey coated sweet pastries...

Wines: D.O from Montilla-Moriles: dry sherry, full bodied sherry, pale dry sherry, Pedro Ximenez, young white wines and organic wines.

Where to stay in Cordoba:

• Hotels and other accommodation: Click on Hotels in Cordoba for a reviews of the best value hotels available
  

Where to eat out in Cordoba:

• Guide to restaurants in Cordoba:
  
  Restaurante Federación de Peñas (c/conde Duque, 8, Tel: 957 47 54 27): regional cuisine; Restaurante Almudaina (Jardín de los Santos Máritres, 1, Tel: 957 47 43 42): regional cuisine and game dishes; Restaurante Taberna de Pepe de la Judería (c/Romero, 1, Tel: 957 20 07 44): regional cuisine; Restaurante Caballo Rojo (c/ Cardenal Herrero, 28, Tel: 957 47 53 75): regional cuisine and Arabic dishes; Restaurante Pic Nic (Ronda de los Tejares, 18, Tel: 957 482 233): excellent classic regional cuisine; Restaurante Bodegas Campos (c/ Lineros, 32, Tel.: 957 497 500): excellent classic Andalucian cuisine; Restaurante El Churrasco (c/ Romero, 16, Tel.: 957 290 819): specializes in meat from Pedroches cooked on grills fuelled by oak wood; Restaurante El Alma (c/ Teruel, 23, Tel: 957 282 798): modern, Mediterranean cuisine.
  
  
• The Best Restaurants in the Province of Cordoba:: Restaurante Hospedería de San Francisco (Avenida Pío XII, 33, in Palma del Río, Tel: 957 710 183): Basque cuisine; Restaurante La Taberna (c/ Antonio Machado, 24, in Almodobar del Río, Tel: 957 713 684):regional cuisine; Restaurante Mesón Vizconde (c/ Martín Berda, 16, in Cabra): regional cuisine, good cold meats and ham; Restaurante La Bolera (c/ Pedro Torrero, 17, in Belálcazar in los Pedroches valley, Tel: 957 146 300): modern regional cuisine.