7. Sights, Sounds, and Scents of Córdoba's Patios
Walking through Córdoba's patios as the evening falls, taking in the scent of jasmine and the relaxed conversation among friends and locals, is a wonderful experience that is not to be missed on a visit to Andalucia. Córdoba's patios are part of a unique tradition in the world, with a variety of different kinds classified according to their usage and history.
The city's Patios Populares (public patios) are usually shared by several families, who look after the patio throughout the year. You would be hard-pressed to find two patios that looked alike, with each one offering a different variety of climbing plants, jasmine, geraniums, roses, and many more stunning varieties of flowers.
The month of May is the perfect time of year to explore Córdoba's patios, with about 50 of them spread out throughout the city and participating in the annual competition to find the most beautiful. Join this guided walking tour to discover the sights, sounds, and scents of Córdoba's charming neighborhoods of Santa Maria, San Lorenzo, and San Agustín, areas unknown to most visitors to Córdoba, and walk through 10 to 15 of the city's most picturesque patios. Many of them have won a first place prize in the annual competition, held each May since 1933. During the tour you will stop at a typical tavern and taste a Fino wine D.O. Montilla-Moriles with a savory tapa.