Monuments
Squares
Of interest for the visitor are certainly Plaza de las Tendillas,
in fact the central square in town with its clock that sounds
like a guitar, Plaza de la Corredera where in 17th century
took place the bullfights and Plaza del Potro, known from
Cervante's Don Quijote.
Roman Ruins
In Calle Claudio Marcelo there are rests of a Roman Temple,
and, in the North-East of the town, there are more ruins close
to the Tower of Malmuerte.
La "Mezquita"
The most beautiful and original building of all Spain.
This Mezquita initiated the so-called Califal style, which
combined Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Syrian and Persian elements
and was the starting-point of all Arabian-Hispanic architecture
of the centuries to come, up to the Mudéjar-style of
Arabians living in the Spain reconquered by Christians.
The Cathedral
When the Christians reconquered Cordoba in 1236, they consecrated
the mosque to be the Christian cathedral. In 13th century
the first modifications were made and the Royal Chapel, Capilla
Real, was added. In 1523 the Catholic Church and King Charles
V. put through against the will of the town's administration
to build a Christian cathedral inside of the original mosque.
Works took 234 years, so the original Gothic style is combined
with Baroque and Renaissance elements. Remarkable are the
Cardinal's Chapel and its treasure, including a monstrance
of Enrique de Arfe, an ivory crucifix of Alonso Cano and important
sculptures and paintings.
Around the "Mezquita"
Archiepiscopal Palais: In its interior there are rests
of the palace of the epoch of the Goths, which lateron became
Alcazar Califal, palace of the Arabian caliph. This palace
was abandoned when the court changed to Medina-Azahara , but
served again as residence to the kings of Taifas.
Puerta del Puente: This door was originally part of
the Arabian walls, but lateron modified in Renaissance-style.
Puente Romano: Roman bridge over Guadalquivir river,
consisting of 16 arcs and once forming part of the Roman Via
Augusta. In the central part of the bridge was added a monument
to San Rafael, the town's patron, in 17th century.
Torre de Calahorra: Arabian fortification at the Southern
end of Puente Romano, originally consisting of two towers
connected by an arc, to which was added a third tower in 14th
century.
Along the river there are rests of Moorish mills, most important
being the mill of Albolafia, which was pumping water up to
the gardens of the Alcazar. Vis-a-vis there is a Baroque monument
to San Rafael of 1781.
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