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Cordoba Cordoba is a modestly sized city by todays standards, though it boasts a wealth of sights & attractions that far outstrip its populace. It is one of Spain's premier city break destinations, attracting crowds all year round. This is largely due to it being the capital of Spain during the Moorish (Arab) occupation of the peninsular, & under their rule is thought to have been the largest & most advanced city in the world. The Caliphate of Cordoba as it came to be known produced great architectural achievements, many of which still pepper Cordoba's inner city area. The result is a heritage unique from that of other European cities, drawing crowds from all over the world. People come to see the remnants of a lost empire, many famous monuments, & to savour in the ambience, cuisine, & other delights of this beautiful city. Geography & Facts Cordoba is the capital of its own province, & is located in the northern-most portion of the autonomous community of Andalucia in southern Spain. A city of moderate size it had a populace of just over 320,000 people in 2005. Sights & attractions It is difficult to know where to begin when summarising Cordoba's attractions. Suffice to say that there is something here for everyone. The Mesquita (Cordoba's mosque) is one of the most beautiful examples of Moorish design in all of Spain. Some of it's elements, such as it's Mihrab, are considered to be among the best in the world. Though portions of its design have been compromised by later Christian architects, the building still remains a national wonder & is well worth visiting. The Alcazar is the castle fortification built by Spain's Christian kings. Once the site of the residence of the Caliph of Cordoba it was transformed when the city fell under Christian rule, & became the home of Spain's monarchs (Isabel & Ferdinand) for eight years. This is a very popular monument with beautiful gardens & a charming Moorish bath-house. The Juderia is the ancient Jewish-Arabic neighborhood of Cordoba. Its layout has remained relatively untouched over the years & is less commercialised than that of other Spanish cities. See the link to our Cordoba Attractions document on the left hand side of this page for more information on things to see & do in Cordoba. Getting around The best way to experience Cordoba's most central areas is on foot, & as much of it is pedestrianised this is probably also the most sensible method of getting around. However the city does boast a well run & often frequent bus service. Taxi's are also numerous & generally affordable. Those traveling outside Cordoba will most likely catch a train at the new train station in the north-west of the city; from here there are high speed services running to Seville (45 mins) & Madrid (2 hrs). Cuisine Cordoba is an excellent place to come if looking to savour traditional Spanish cuisine, with a multitude of restaurants & tapas bars present throughout the city centre. Of course some Arabic influence remains with plenty of themed restaurants & indeed more staple dishes that carry more exotic flavors. Shopping There many shopping opportunities in Cordoba, including middle-high end retail outlets, markets, & department stores. However for shops that are slightly more unique to the area (or perhaps more directly aimed at tourists) there are many craft shops selling pottery & leather goods. The Jewish quarter is the best place to head for jewellery/silver goods, & there are shops selling Arabic wares around the Mesquita. History in brief The city of Cordoba was once the centre of the Caliphate of Cordoba; an immensely powerful Muslim state that controlled much of Spain. During much of this period it is thought to have been the largest, most politically, & technologically advanced city in the world. The Moors brought great advances to Spain & Europe as a whole; in terms of their introduction of crops, irrigation methods, architectural achievements, scientific prowess, military superiority, & much more. Cordoba was the centre of this world for hundreds of years & so this must form the basis of its historical uniqueness. For more detailed information please refer to our Cordoba History document. Climate The climate in Cordoba is one of Spain's hottest. During the summer months (June-September) daily highs can reach 36°C, with nightly lows of 18°C. Though significantly cooler its winters are very mild, with frequent daily highs of 18°C, & nightly lows of around 9°C. Cordoba Tourist Office TEL +34 957 491678 FAX +34 957 475485 More Cordoba links: - Cordoba, Information on Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain, Europe
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