Spain & Portugal Travel Part VII: Cordoba
Spain & Potugal Travel Part VII: Cordoba
Cordoba
Day 7 Sunday, 28 October 2018
On this day, we were going to visit Cordoba. We left Hotel Sevilla Congresos in Seville in the morning and travelled 141 km east to Cordoba. The journey would take 2 hours.
Map showing the location of Cordoba
Map showing the location of Cordoba
On arrival at Cordoba in the morning, we went to see a Roman bridge.
Writer and wife at Roman Bridge
Roman Bridge Visit
Roman Bridge of Cordoba
The Roman Bridge of Cordoba was built in the 1st. Century B.C.. It is 247 metres long and 9 metres wide crossing River Quadadquivir.
Roman Bridge of Cordoba
Roman Bridge of Cordoba was built in the 1st. Century B.C. crossing River Quadadquivir.
Mosque-Cathedral in the Distance
From the bridge an ancient Roman Catholic church can be seen in the distance. It is commonly known as Mosque-Cathedral.
Mosque-Cathedral on the right in the distance
On Roman Bridge, Mosque-Cathedral can be seen on the right in the distance.
Mosque Becoming Roman Catholic Church
A mosque was built in the Muslim Umayyad Dynasty(929-1031). Later it was converted to a Roman Catholic church when a Spanish Catholic monarch , King Ferdinand III(1199-1252), captured Cordoba in 1236. It is therefore known as Mosque-Cathedral.
Mosque-Cathedral
Mosque-Cathedral was originally a mosque during the Umayyad Dynasty. It was converted into a Roman Catholic church when King Ferdinand III captured Cordoba in 1236.
Mosque-Cathedral seen from Courtyard of Orange Trees
Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba as seen from the courtyard of oranges.
Back Wall of Mosque-Cathedral
Back wall of Mosque-Cathedral as seen from outside
Cordoba Main Gate or Roman Bridge Gate of Cordoba
The old town of Cordoba has a large, high gate that looks like the triumphal arch known as Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Located near the Roman Bridge, it was built in Renaissance style in the 16th. Century replacing the old one. It was the main gate into the old town and is known as Roman Bridge Gate. The wall connected to the gate is already gone.
Main Gate or Roman Bridge Gate
Cordoba Main Gate or Roman Bridge Gate built in the 16th. Century
Bell-Tower of Mosque-Cathedral
We entered the old town of Cordoba through the gate and visited the Mosque-Cathedral.
The cathedral has a bell-tower. It was converted from a mosque’s minaret when Cordoba was captured by a Holy Roman Catholic monarch, King Ferdinand III, in 1236.
Bell-Tower of Mosque-Cathedral
Bell -Tower of Mosque-Cathedral was converted from a mosque’s minaret.
The Main Gate of Mosque-Cathedral
Mosque-Cathedral has retained many parts of the former mosque, including the main gate, walls and the building.
Main Gate of Mosque-Cathedral
Main Gate of Mosque-Cathedral
Wall of Mosque-Cathedral
Wall of Mosque-Cathedral
Almodovar Gate
Near the Mosque-Cathedral there is a partial wall with a gate known as Almodovar Gate. It was built during the Muslim rule in Cordoba(920-1031).
Almodovar Gate
Almodovar Gate in Almodovar Town was built during the Muslim rule in Cordoba(929-1031).
Cordoba City Walls
Walls were built round Cordoba Old Town during the Muslim rule in Cordoba(929-1031) during the Umayyad Dynasty. Now we can see some remaining parts of the wall.
Old Walls in Cordoba Old Town
Cordoba’s Old City Walls
Sandstone Wall
An old remaining wall that is not restored exposes its sandstone blocks in the Cordoba old town.
Old Sandstone Wall
Old sandstone wall that is not restored is exposing its sandstone blocks.
Lunch at Restaurante China Town
Before we continued walking to the next landmark, Tendillas Square, in Cordoba Old Town, we stopped for lunch at a Chinese restaurant, Restaurante China Town.
Restaurante China Town
Restaurante China Town, a Chinese restaurant in Cordoba Old Town
Writer’s Lunch
Writer’s lunch at Restaurante China Town in Cordoba Old Town
After lunch, we walked to the square, Tendillas Square. On the way, we saw a church called St. Nicholas Church.
St. Nicholas Church, Cordoba
St. Nicholas Church is a parish church. It was built in Gothic-Mudejar style in the 13th. Century after the end of the Muslim rule in Cordoba in 1031. Later in the 16th. Century, it was changed to Baroque style.
St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas Church is a parish church. It was built in Gothic-Mudejar style in 13th. Century and then Baroque style in 16th. Century.
Bronze Statue of an Unknown Lady
Then we came across an interesting bronze statue of an unknown lady reading a newspaper, as shown in the photo below.
Statue of an Unknown Lady
Bronze statue of an unknown lady
Roman Temple
Later, we came across the location of a Roman temple.
Roman temples were built around 50 A.D. in Cordoba. One was discovered in 1950s in the old town and columns were erected to show its location, as shown in the photo below.
Location of a Roman temple
Roman temples were built in 50 A.D. in Cordoba
Tendillas Square
Soon we came to the largest square in Cordoba known as Tendillas Square.
It is a public place where social and political activities are carried out, frequently.
Located in the centre of the busy business area of the Cordoba City, it is surrounded by large buildings, including Union and Phoenix Building owned by an insurance company of the same name, Casa Colomera built for the counts of Colomera in 1928 and House of Enriquez Barrios built for the mayor of Cordoba, Enriquez Barrios(1913-1916), in 1928.
Tendillas Square
Tendillas Square is surrounded by large buildings and an equestrian statue of the Great Captain is in the centre.
Casa Colomera and House of Enriquez Barrios
Casa Colomera and House of Enriquez Barrios in Tendillas Square
Equestrian Statue of the Great Captain
Erected in the centre of the square in 1927 is an equestrian statue of the Great Captain, General Gonzalo Fernandez(1453-1515).
Gonazal0 Fernandez was a Spanish general and statesman who led successful military campaigns during the Conquest of Granada and the Italian Wars. Owing to his military victories and widespread popularity, the Spanish people called him “El Gran Capitan” or the “The Great Captain”.
Equestrian of “The Great Captain”
Equestrian Statue of the Great Captain in the centre of Tendillas Aquare
While walking away from the Tendillas Square, we came across a few old churches, as described below.
Church of St. Paul, Cordoba
Church of St. Paul was built in Baroque style in the 14th. Century dedicating to St. Paul.
In 2006, it became a minor basilica.
Front Gate to Church of St. Paul
Front gate to Church of St. Paul built in the 14th. Century
Facade of the Church of St. Paul in Baroque Style
Church of St. Paul in Baroque style
Interior of the Church of St. Paul
Interior of Church of St. Paul
Chapel of Christ and Virgin Mary in the Church
Chapel of Christ and Virgin Mary in the Church of St. Paul
Basilica of the Oath of St. Rafael
This minor basilica in Cordoba was built in the 18th. Century. It was built because St. Rafael(an archangel) promised Father Roeles that he would protect the city in 1578.
Facade of Basilica of the Oath of St. Rafael
Basilica of the Oath of St. Rafael was built in the 18th. Century.
Side view of Basilica of the Oath of St. Rafael
Side view of the Oath of St. Rafael in Cordoba
Church of St. Lawrence(San Lorenzo)
Church of St. Lawrence was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style between 1244 and 1300. It has a bell tower and a large rose window.
Church of St. Lawrence
Church of St. Lawrence(San Lorenzo)
Church of Our Lady Grace
Church of Our Lady Grace was the last church we saw in Cordoba. It is a Roman Catholic church built in Baroque style in the 17th. Century. It was founded by San Juan Beautista de la Concepcion(1561-1613) who was a religious and ascetic writer.
Church of Our Lady Grace
Church of Our Lady of Grace
Restaurante China Town, Cordoba
Having seen the landmarks in Cordoba Old Town, we went for lunch at a Chinese restaurant, Restaurante China Town, in the town.
Hotel Macia Condor, Granada
After lunch we left for Granada which is 208 km away and the travelling time would take 2 hours and 30 minutes.
On arrival at Granada, we checked in at a hotel, Hotel Macia Condor.
Dinner at a Granada restaurant, El Tempo del Flamenco
In the evening we left the hotel and walked over 500 metres to a restaurant known as El Tempo del Flamenco for dinner and Flamenco show.
The interior of the restaurant was small and looked like a cave that was white-washed. There was a semi-circular stage in front for the Flamenco show.
Flamenco Show Stage
Flamenco Show Stage
Sumptuous Dinner
Tour group were enjoying the sumptuous dinner at the restaurant before the show started.
Dinner at El Tempo del Flamenco Restaurant
Dinner at a Granada restaurant
Dinner before Flamenco Show started
Tour group having dinner before Flamenco show started
Food for dinner provided by the restaurant
Hard-rock Bread
Rock-hard bread
Salad and Slices of Sausage
Salad and slices of sausage
Chicken Meat
Chicken meat
Fried Eggs with Slices of Bacon
Fried eggs with slices of bacon
Fried Mixture of Potato and Eggplant
Fried mixture of potato and eggplant
Flamenco Show at the Restaurant
After the sumptuous dinner, the Flamenco show started with a handsome man singing a traditional Flamenco song to the accompaniment of the sounds from guitar, cajon drum box and clapping.
Solo Flamenco singer
Solo Flamenco Singer
Flamenco Dancing
Then ladies in Flamenco dresses took turn to dance. They danced with expressive movements of their arms, bodies and legs. Their legs stomped on the stage, rhythmically.
A Solo Flamenco Dancer
A solo Flamenco dancer in a long red dress
Another Solo Dancer
Another solo Flamenco dancer dancing Tango
Two Flamenco Dancers dancing together
Two Flamenco Dancers dancing together
A Solo Flamenco Guitarist
Solo Flamenco guitarist strumming Flamenco musics
After enjoying the Flamenco show, we walked back to the hotel, Hotel Macia Condor, and retired for a night.
Change of Coach Drivers
First Coach Driver, Sergio
When we arrived in Cordoba City, we had to bide farewell to our first coach driver, Sergio. He had driven us, safely, from Madrid to Cordoba to see heritage sites for four days.
Saying goodbye to Sergio, the first coach driver
Sergio saying goodbye to everyone in Cordoba as his job is taken over by another driver, Juan.
Second Coach Driver, Juan
We welcomed our second coach driver, Juan, who would drive us from Cordoba to Barcelona which was our final destination for the last four days in Spain.
Welcoming Juan, the second coach driver
Juan is taking over Sergio’s job as a coach driver in Cordoba.
.Garden of Triumph and Monument to the Triumph of Virgin
On the following morning of Monday, 29 October 2018, I walked 200 metres from the hotel, Hotel Marcia Condor, to a garden.
It is a large garden known as Garden of Triumph(Granada).
Garden of Triumph and Monument to the Triumph of Virgin
Garden of Triumph and Monument to the Triumph of Virgin, Granada
Past History of Garden of Triumph
Originally, the garden was a large Arab cemetery in the 13th. Century. Later, it was reduced in size when part of it was urbanized in 16th. Century due to increase in population.
The garden was used as a place for execution of Spanish patriots during the French rule from 1808 until 1813, and it remained so until 1840.
In the 19th. Century the garden was beautified and a tall monument known as Monument to the Triumph of Virgin was erected in its centre.
Next Destination
Then we travelled to Alhambra Complex, a historical heritage site on the outskirts of Granada.
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Places visited during Spain & Portugal Tour(22 Oct-02 Nov 2018):
Toledo Madrid Salamanca Porto Lisbon Seville Cordobo Granada Valencia Barcelona