1. Cordoba’s Remarkable History
Cordoba was once the capital of Al-Andalus, the Moslem-occupied territories in the Iberian Peninsula during the period referred to in Northern Europe as the Dark Ages. In the 10th and early 11th centuries, it was the most powerful and influential city in Europe . Cordoba’s historic centre, declared a Universal Heritage Site by UNESCO, still reflects those Moorish times and its earlier Roman heritage.
2. La Mezquita
The Mosque of Cordoba (la Mezquita), Cordoba’s Cathedral since 1236, is one of Spain’s most visited attractions and the foremost example of Islamic architecture in Spain. In 1984 it became the first Spanish monument to be declared a UNESCO Universal Heritage Site.
2. The Most UNESCO World Heritage Distinctions of Any City in the World
- The Mosque of Cordoba – UNESCO World Heritage Centre (1984)
- Historic Centre of Cordoba – UNESCO World Heritage Centre (1994)
- The Cordoba Patio Festival (2012)
- Caliphate City of Medina Azahara – UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2018)
Article: Cordoba, Spain Has the Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Architectural Digest
4. Off the beaten track and into authentic Andalusia
But there’s more to Cordoba than the Mosque and other monuments. This elegant city is large enough to offer travelers the variety of amenities they expect, yet small enough to walk everywhere. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 (expanding on the Mezquita’s ’84 designation), it’s a city which has not lost its soul to modernity or to mass tourism ; a place where you can both relax and get the most out of your vacation in an authentic setting. In its extensive historic district and picturesque neighborhoods, you’ll emerge from the crowds into the essence of today’s Andalusia. Here you’ll find the traditions of southern Spain are tastefully combined with modernity.
5. Cordoba’s Convenient Location
Cordoba, Spain is located in the center of southern Spain (Andalusia) and has always been a strategic crossroads–today is no different for travelers who are short on time. Less than 2 hours from Madrid, Cordoba lies in the heart of Andalucía. Together with Granada and Seville, Cordoba is a must-see for tourists visiting Spain.
Trains: the Madrid-Cordoba-Seville high-speed AVE train line means short travel times between Cordoba-Seville (40 min) and Cordoba-Madrid (1 hr 40 min). If your flight is to Madrid or Seville, you can be at your hotel in Cordoba within a few hours. For those of you on budget flights from northern Europe, you can fly into Seville, travel to Cordoba and end your Andalusian trip in Granada, with another flight from there. Some flights from the US, and many from the UK, fly to Malaga , and there are now fast and cheap Malaga-Cordoba train connections. With the new motorway, it’s about a 2-hour drive from Malaga (and 1-1/4 hour from Seville). There are train and bus connections to other major cities from Cordoba.