Córdoba (province, Spain) Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

37°51′22″N 4°43′37″W

Map of Córdoba (province, Spain)

• 37.884507-4.7795681 Córdoba – provincial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• 37.8-5.0166672 Almodóvar del Río — a Moorish castle 25 km (16 mi) west of Córdoba built in the 8th century that was featured in the TV series Game of Thrones
• 37.8-5.243 Hornachuelos
• 37.25-4.34 Iznájar – just over one hour's drive from Córdoba, Granada and Málaga cities lies the village of Iznájar, the most southerly village of the Sierra Subbética mountain range, last known home to the Iberian Lynx.
• 37.408889-4.4852785 Lucena – second only to Córdoba, this city is notable for both its Easter celebration and strong Jewish roots and influences
• 37.5-4.746 Montalbán de Córdoba
• 38.132556-4.8000177 Obejo
• 37.383333-4.7666678 Puente Genil – famous for its Semana Santa-celebration

Sierra Subbética south of Córdoba offers great hiking opportunities. Beyond the main towns are uniquely situated white villages such as Zuheros, which are worth a visit for their magnificent view alone.

The reservoir of Iznajar at the southwest end of the Sierra Subbética offers all possible inland water sports and is a popular holiday centre for Spanish vacationers. The spectacular location of the medieval town is an attraction.

North of the Guadalquivir, two nature parks offer hikers and nature lovers absolute peace from the hustle and bustle and tourism: The Parque natural de la Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro in the east, which borders the Natural Park of the Sierra Andujar in the province of Jaén , as well as the Parque natural Sierra de Hornachuelos in the west of the province.

The glamorous history of the capital Córdoba, which goes back to Roman times, outshines the entire province. Already in Moorish times it was an independent emirate, later as a caliphate an important and independent administrative center as well as a melting pot of Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultures and always on a par with the neighboring city of Granada. Even after the Christian reconquest, these roots were least touched here, which makes the Mezquita of Cordoba such a unique example of cultural crossings. Because of its preserved small-town flair, Córdoba is almost more than Granadaone of the most beautiful examples of still being able to understand this cultural mix up close. The city narrowly lost the competition for European Capital of Culture 2012.

Efforts to upgrade the province for tourism are not limited to Córdoba. In the Sierra Subbética in particular, a lot has been done to make this area more interesting by means of very interesting themed hiking trails along disused railway lines. In the meantime, a high-grade infrastructure has been created here without damaging the originality of the localities.

Wine connoisseurs will find a very special specialty here. The Ximénex grape is grown near Montilla, an offshoot of Riesling probably introduced in the 16th century, from which sherry-like variations of sweet wines are developed, only that they develop their alcohol content naturally and without additives (which local winemakers attach great importance to).

Spanish is spoken in Andalusia, but Andalusians have their own particularity. The endings of the words are left out. Good morning means: buenos dias. The Andalusians say: bueno fia. The number two is dos. In Andalusia they say do.

As everywhere in Andalusia, Midsummer in Cordoba is very dry and hot in July and August. The maximum temperatures can reach the 40 °C mark in the long term, the nights are tropical.

There are more pleasant temperatures in spring and autumn , where occasional rainfalls can be expected. Most of the rain falls in the winter months from November to January, when daytime temperatures can occasionally drop below 10 °C. Snowfall at higher altitudes is rare, but it does happen.

The best way to get to the province from Germany is via the international airports of Malaga or Seville . Flights within Spain are also handled via Granada-Jaén Airport. Only flights to Barcelona , Vigo and Bilbao are operated from the small Córdoba airport.

Córdoba is on the main artery of the high-speed train AVE Madrid – Seville – Cádiz, and a branch to Málaga branches off here. In this respect, the main airports can be reached quickly and easily. Only a few rail connections lead into the hinterland, via Montoro and Andujar there is a connection to Linares- Baeza and Jaén.

Málaga, Seville and Madrid can also be reached by long-distance bus. The hinterland is opened up by private bus companies.

The A4 Madrid – Seville crosses the province along the Guadalquvir from east to west. In Córdoba, the A-45 branches off to the south and connects the region along the eastern edge of the Sierra Subbética with Málaga. This crosses the A-92 Seville – Granada at the southern end of the province near Iznajar, so that Granada can also be reached quickly. But the local roads in the province are also good, some of them are built like a motorway (be careful: there are often speed controls!)

When visiting the provincial capital alone, having your own vehicle is rather a hindrance. Large parts of the old town are pedestrian zones, and the alleys around them represent a tangle of one-way streets with no parking spaces, barely recognizable for visitors who are not familiar with the area.

As part of a round trip in Córdoba, it is best to have your own vehicle in one of the nearby parking garages (e.g. close to the center at Paeo Victoria). Having your own vehicle is definitely an advantage for visiting the surrounding nature parks, especially for hiking and the like. Almost all places can be reached individually by bus lines, but their timetables and times rarely correspond to the needs of certain arrival and departure times.

The undisputed main attraction is the capital Córdoba, and especially the Mezquita with the adjacent Moorish-Jewish quarter of Judería. But also some of the surrounding cities and towns not only attract with a baroque or Moorish ensemble in the style of the white villages, but also with some remarkable sacred buildings or prominently located castles (some also ruins).

The former caliphate city Medina Azahara is just a few kilometers from Córdoba. It has been on the World Heritage List since 2018.

The nature parks offer tranquility and beautiful views, and well-tended, thematically oriented hiking routes, endemic flora and fauna, and some caves as natural monuments.

In Córdoba you can do countless things. From watching a movie in any of the city's cinemas, taking a walk through the Jewish Quarter or going to the stadium to watch the Córdoba football club play, which plays in the second division of the Spanish league. Despite being a small city, it has many entertainment venues. During the day we can walk through the Jewish quarter or taste delicacies in any of the restaurants that we find in the center. During the night the city goes out to party and the streets are very acclimated.

The province produces high-quality olive oil. The productions of the Baena and Priego de Córdoba area stand out. In the northern part of the province, around the Valle de los Pedroches, the quality of its hams, sausages and other mountain products is recognized.

In some areas, especially in the Sierra Morena, hunting products stand out, and you can find restaurants specializing in these.

Puente Genil has the largest production of quince paste in the world.

Typical dishes

• Salmorejo
• Flamenquin
• Bull's tail
• Fried cod
• Meat with tomato

In the capital, Córdoba, you can enjoy nightlife in every form, volume and extent. During the high season there should also be a lot going on in the more Spanish-influenced tourist centre of Iznájar. In the otherwise rather rural communities, you will mostly have to limit yourself to visiting the local bars.

It is recommended to taste Montilla-Moriles, a unique wine that is only produced in this area of ​​Spain due to its particular climatic conditions.

In the very tourist-oriented places, such as the city centre of Córdoba or possibly also Iznájar, the usual caution against petty crime is required. In the rural areas one can generally feel quite safe. No particular attacks have become known in the entire province.