CóRDOBA, SPAIN

'Córdoba' (Arabic: 'قرطبة' [Qurtuba], in English: 'Cordova') is a city in Andalucía, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. Located at 37.88° North, 4.77° West, on the Guadalquivir river, it was founded in ancient Roman times as 'Corduba' by Claudius Marcellus. Its population is 321,164 as of 2005.
Today a moderately-sized modern city, the old town contains many impressive architectural reminders of when Córdoba was the thriving capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba that governed almost all of the Iberian peninsula. It has been estimated that Córdoba, with up to 500,000 inhabitants in the tenth century, was the largest city in Western Europe and, perhaps, in the world^[1].

Contents

History

Geography

Climate

Important buildings

Religious architecture

Civil and military architecture

Archaeological sites

Parks & Gardens

Famous people born in Córdoba and its province

Twin cities

References

External links

History

Córdoba was the capital of the Roman province ''Provincia Hispania Ulterior Baetica'', time of splendour, in which there were a lot of fantastic buildings. Great philosophers like Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, orators like Seneca the Elder and poets like Lucan expressed themselves in those palaces. Later, it occupied an important place in the ''Provincia Hispaniae'' of the Byzantine Empire and during the Visigoth period.
Córdoba became a capital once more during the ''Independent Emirate'' and the ''Western Umayyad Caliphate'', the period of its apogee, with a population ranging between 250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants. In the 10th century, Córdoba was one of the largest cities in the world, as well as a great cultural, political and economic centre. To this time dates back the Mosque of Córdoba. Nowadays Córdoba is a great cultural focal point in the South of Europe, considered as one of the most beautifully preserved cities, and of great quality of life in Spain.
With one of the most extensive historical heritages in the world (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO the 17th of December 1984) the city features various modern areas: The districts of Zoco and Plan RENFE (train station) by its urban dimensions and high quality of housing are very pleasant although prices are high.
Córdoba is a candidate for European Capital of Culture for 2016. The ''Junta de Andalucía'' has been studying for a time, the creation of the ''Metropolitan Area of Córdoba'' that would be composed, in addition to the capital, of the populations of Villafranca, Obejo, the Carlota, Villaharta, Villaviciosa, Almodóvar of Ri'o and Guadalcázar. Thus, it would represent an approximate population of 351,000 inhabitants.

Geography

Its location on the banks of the Guadalquivir river and its easy access to the mining resources of the ''Sierra Morena'' (coal, lead, zinc) satisfy the population’s needs.
The city is located in a depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir.
In the north is the ''Sierra Morena'', which delimits the borders of the municipal area.

Climate

Córdoba has a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic coastal influences. Winters are mild with isolated frosts.
Summers, with increased daily thermal oscillations, have the highest maximum temperatures in Europe, exceeding 40°C occasionally.
Local Minimum summer temperature is 27°C, the highest in Spain and Europe. Precipitation is concentrated in the coldest months; this is due to the Atlantic coastal influence. Precipitation is generated by storms from the west that occur more often from December through February. This Atlantic characteristic then gives way to a hot summer with significant drought more typical of Mediterranean climates.
Annual rain surpasses 500 mm although there is a recognized inter-annual irregularity. In agreement with the climatic Classification of Köppen, local climate can be described as Csa.
Registered maximum temperatures at Córdoba Airport (located at 6 km of the city) are 46.6º (23rd, July 1995) and 46.2º (1st, August 2003). Minimum temperature is -8.2º (28th January 2005).

Important buildings

Religious architecture

★ The Mezquita: The mosque, which dates back to the Umayyad period (its construction started in 784), was converted to a Cathedral after the Reconquista.

★ Synagogue (14th century)

★ Fernandine- and Alphonsine-style churches (13th century)

★ Monasteries and broods (some of them are desafected)

Civil and military architecture

★ Alcázar of the Christian Kings (14th century)

★ Palace of Viana with its flowered patios (16th century)

★ Royal residences and palaces

★ The Tower of Calahorra (14th century)

★ The Door of the Bridge (16th century)

★ The ''Plaza Vieja'' or ''Plaza Mayor''

★ Walls and towers of the Muslim and Christian period

Archaeological sites

★ Roman archaeological remains (temple, mausoleum)

★ Islamic archaeological remains (minarets preserved in the churches, Arab baths)

★ Archaeological site of Madinat Al-Zahra (10th century)

★ The Roman Bridge

Parks & Gardens

★ Garden of the Victory

★ Garden of the Rivas Duc

★ Garden of the Agriculture

★ Garden of the Conde de Vallellano

★ Garden of Juan Carlos I

★ Park Cruz Conde

★ Sotos de la Albolafia

★ Balcón del Guadalquivir

★ Peri-urban park of Los Villares

★ Park of the Miraflores

Famous people born in Córdoba and its province

Córdoba was the birthplace of four famous philosophers: in Roman times the stoic Seneca, in Islamic times the Muslim Averroes and the Jewish Maimonides and, in the Renaissance, possibly Abraham Cohen de Herrera. Córdoba was also the birthplace of the Roman poet Lucan, the medieval Spanish poet Juan de Mena, and the Renaissance Luis de Góngora, who lived most of his life and wrote all his most important works but one in Córdoba. More recently, several flamenco artists including Paco Peña, Vicente Amigo, and Joaquín Cortés were born here as well.

Twin cities

★ Al Qayrawan, Tunisia

★ Damascus, Syria

★ Manchester, United Kingdom

★ Bourg-en-Bresse, France

★ Fes, Morocco

References

1. geography.about.com

External links

★ Official website of the city council.

★ Córdoba Tourism Maps and descriptions of tourist attractions in Córdoba

★ http://www.infocordoba.com An insider's guide to visiting Córdoba.

★ rural tourism in Córdoba

★ http://www.cordoba24.info/english Attractions, hotels, restaurants, activities

★ http://www.castillosnet.org/cordoba/index1.shtml

★ Cordobapedia

★ Photography from Córdoba

★ Lucadea.com - 33 pics of the city