patios de córdoba

Every spring, the city of Córdoba has a patio competition that attracts thousands of visitors. Patios throughout the city showcase gardens with thriving plants and blossoming flowers in traditional blue macetas (pots). In addition, “wells or fountains embellish the space, creating a beautiful image in which water, light and vegetation fuse together; a clear reflection of the city’s Arabic past.” The patios are interior courtyards, which were key features of homes during Arabic rule of the Iberian Peninsula. Standing at the front door of these houses, you wouldn’t expect the oases tucked inside. Similar to home-and-garden tours, the patios are part of private residences and are only opened to the public a few hours per day during the annual competition. So, it was a real treat to see these beautiful spaces.

In addition to visiting the breathtaking courtyards, we explored some of Córdoba’s other popular sites. Like many places in Spain, the cathedral of Córdoba has previously been used as a mosque – possibly before that as a church. It was incredibly interesting to see the different lives the building has lived in its unique architectural features. We also visited the iconic bridge of Córdoba, which was one of the places that Game of Thrones filmed in Spain. (I’m not sure in what season. Does anyone recognize it?) We also sampled two popular local dishes: flamenquín and salmorejo. Flamenquín is a deep-fried roll of sliced jamón and pork. Ours also had cheese. It was fantastic! Salmorejo is a cold tomato soup, similar to gazpacho but thicker in consistency and made with fewer ingredients. Salmorejo is such a popular dish in Córdoba that there’s a traditional recipe posted on a tile in one of the main streets.

Although it’s also part of Andalucía and only a couple hours from Málaga, Córdoba felt unique. Our short visit was a great Spanish experience.