Courtyards of Córdoba

Marvel at the beautiful patios of Córdoba and discover why UNESCO included them on their Intangible Heritage of Humanity list for the city's May celebrations of abundant flowers. See a selection of 7 or 8 courtyards and get an insight into how they evolved. Travel back to their origins when Córdoba was part of the Roman Empire as the capital of the province of Hispania Baetica. Marvel at the different types of patio and capture the scent of sweet-smelling flowers. Hear how the patios became a place of friendship where people would present plants and trees to help keep the homes cool and sheltered from the hot climate of Andalusia.

Embark on a guided tour of Córdoba with skip-the-line entry to the great Mosque-Cathedral. Follow your guide through the historical Jewish Quarter and step inside the impressive Synagogue. Meet your experienced guide outside the Mosque-Cathedral. After being provided with a headset, start your tour by listening to an introduction to the history of the mosque. Explore the courtyard of the complex, called the Patio de los Naranjos. Soak up the atmosphere of this peaceful space with lots of greenery, and marvel at the beautiful Bell Tower. Then skip the ticket line to enter the monument without any hassle. Follow your guide as they take you around the mosque. Admire the Prayer Hall, the Mihrab, and the famous red and white arches, and take pictures as you go around. Your guide will tell you about the different expansions of the building, and all the hidden details of the architecture. Next, join a walking tour around the historical Jewish Quarter, a must-do when in Córdoba. Start in Calleja de la Hoguera, where your guide will discuss the Jewish heritage of the area and its importance in the city's development. Stroll around the El Zoco artisans market, the picturesque Plaza del Cardenal Salazar, and the narrow Calleja de la luna. See the souk, the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew, and the statue of one of the most important thinkers in the world: Maimónides. Also, head inside the Synagogue, one of the best-preserved in Spain.

This visit offers an overview of the culture of the patios, the flower courtyards of the city. The tour itinerary will take you through a selection of patio-houses that have been awarded prizes in the local competition and are located in San Basilio Area. These beautiful courtyards, maintained throughout the year, are usually only opened to the public during the popular competition that takes place in May. However, in this tour you will be able to enjoy these private houses and its famous patios out-of-competition, without crowds and with exclusive and personal guidance by their caretakers. Discover intimate and private areas where you will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of flowers and plants and bring back to life traditions that are disappearing from habits and customs due to current ways of life. Admire the unique courtyards of the Cordoba Patios Festival, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.

Journey back in time and explore the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba with a Spanish or English-speaking guide. Learn the history of the monument, built on the orders of the caliph Abd Ar Rahman to rival the great mosques of the East. Marvel at the striking architectural features, such as the double arches of red and white stone that provided the building with height and visual interest.   Next, stroll the narrow streets of the historical Jewish Quarter to see the synagogue and Municipal Souk, where local artisans demonstrate their ancient skills to passersby. Discover the statue of the rabbi and philosopher, Maimonides on Plaza de Tiberiades.

Discover the Cordovan Courtyards, known as patios in Spanish, a main attraction in Cordoba. Learn about the origin of the patios on this 2-hour tour around the Alcazar Viejo neighborhood, and visit the interior of well-preserved houses. Find out more about the Courtyard Festival held in May of each year. Experience the local way of life in this area of the old city. Enter 5 private patios where the owners will tell you about the decorative detail and how they take care of the flowers. The patios were declared a World Heritage tradition by UNESCO in 2012. Although they are beautiful throughout the year, the best time to visit is March, April or May.

Discover why the patios of Cordoba are famous around the world on a walking tour of the traditional neighborhood of San Basilio. Enter some of the historical courtyards, designed since the days of the Romans to offer shade from the hot sun of Andalusia. Learn the history of the lovely tradition of decorating the patios with an abundance of flowers, mosaics and other garden features. Hear how the locals maintain the flowers and learn about the annual contest, known as the Battle of the Flowers. when the private courtyards are opened to the public as part of the spring celebrations.                                                 

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.

Explore the patios of Cordoba by your choice of bike, electric bike or Segway and enjoy the fragrance of the different courtyards in bloom. Select your preferred mode of transportation on booking, and then visit 5 of the most beautiful courtyards of the historical houses to contrast the different styles. Glide or cycle through the streets of the old Jewish Quarter to arrive in the beautiful neighborhood of San Basilio. Visit more of the patios in the historical city center and savor the flavors of the gastronomy of Andalusia at a typical tavern. Learn more about the culture and history of the city, and visit the Royal Stables of Cordoba, where King Felipe ll bred horses to introduce the magnificent Pura Raza Espanola horses of Andalusia to the world.

On this walk, see one of the most characteristic and beautiful districts of Cordoba, the Barrio de San Basilio. Here, discover its beautiful and private courtyards that make up the Festival of Patios de Córdoba. Visit the patios at a peaceful pace accompanied by a guide in Spanish. Enter 3 different private houses to sit with the owners on their patios. Learn about the flowers as well as the historical evolution of the Mediterranean patios and the everyday life of the area. As you wander around, soak up the magical atmosphere created by the Christmas decorations that line the streets.