CORDOBA, Suggested Tours & Things to Do

Hotels in Cordoba | Airport Transfers & Daytours

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Cordoba Only an hour away by expressway from Seville, Cordoba was once one of the largest cities in Europe. Although somewhat diminished in population and importance, it is a fabulous city to explore. First, its mosque is unique in the world with the center of its enormous area having been taken over by a massive and ornate gothic-baroque-rococo styled cathedral. Also well-worth visiting is the Juderia, the former Jewish Quarter. As you follow you guide about the city, keep an eye out for the exquisite inner patios and beflowered balconies that are common to the traditional white-walled, red-tile roofed andalusian houses. If you have some extra time and energy you might ask your guide to stop in one of the many interesting villages (Carmona, for example) along the route back to Seville. Important We can also arrange for you to join a tour group for your visit to Cordoba with guided visit to the city and its monuments included. But, please remember that for more than two people, the difference in price between our private service and a bus tour is negligible. Suggested tours: Visit the Mosque and Jewish District (private visit or join a small group) Festival of the Patios each year during May and the local Fair. At your leisure: Once the usual crowds begin to disperse as the sun sets, take a stroll around the Mosque and the Tendillas neighborhood. The Plaza del Potro and the taverns around Tendillas are justly famous. The citizens of Cordoba are proud of their patios and some of the best examples to be found of these unique, colorful, flower-scented open-air courtyards are at the Palace of Viana, Julio Romero de Torres Museum and the Archeological Museum. The Palace of Medina Zahara and the Alcazar of the Christian Kings are well worth a visit as are the Jewish district and its Synagogue and the innumerable baroque churches. Best time to go: All year round, although the mid-day sun in July and August can be brutal. Best month is May and not just for the weather but also because there is a lot of local color with a multitude of Festivals and Fairs. Where to eat: Try the tapas at the Taberna el Pisto. The Caballo Rojo and Restaurant Almudaina, close to the Mosque, are two of our favourite spots for full-course meals. Remember to consult our dossier to get up-to-date detailed information.

Where to sleep: In the city itself, we recommend the Hotel Alfaros, Amistad, Hesperia Cordoba, the Parador and the Occidental. Close-by, in the countryside, the Hospederia de San Francisco, an old renovated monastery located between Cordoba and Seville, in Palma del Rio, is a real jewel. Interesting half day/full day side trips, with tour guide or driving yourself: You can visit rural towns, such as Cabra, Montilla, Aguilar, Priego de Cordoba, or on route to Seville, Carmona. Medina Zahara (remains of the Caliphate palace are 20 minutes away) Montilla and Moriles Wine Region and White Villages (an hour away) Seville (an hour away) Driving time to principal Andalusian cities: Granada (2 hours) Malaga (2 hours) Seville (1 hour) Madrid by AVE (bullet train) is just an hour and a half away. Seville, half an hour. Sherry & White Villages No, it´s not a fairy tale, although you might feel like your guide has taken you into one when you see the beauty of some of the white villages. Your tour begins almost an hour´s drive from Seville when you arrive at Jerez. The city is well known for three things - bulls, horses and sherry, the latter unique to the region because of the climate and-chalky soil, ideal for palomino grapes. Indeed the name of the city is the Spanish word for sherry. You will stop at one of its internationally known bodegas or wine cellars to see the tradition process of aging the sherry in oaken barrels, a tradition that has been followed for centuries. And, of course, you might want to partake of a sample. The tradition of the legendary Cartujano horses began in the eighteenth century with Carthusian monks. You will be able to stop in to see the Andalusian Royal Equestrian School, and, if you are there on a thursday, will have the chance to see the "horse ballet", a combination of classical and country dressage, with music, horses and riders in a harmonious and colorful symphony of motion. After, it´s bull country. You will pass by some of the famous ranches specializing in the breeding of the "bravo" bulls, those raised with the destiny of one day facing a torero in a bullring. After your guide will take you to Arcos de la Frontera, one of the prettiest towns of the White Villages. Then back to Seville.