The presence of the first human settlements in the area was largely due to their location on the banks of the River Guadalquivir within easy reach of the mines of the Sierra Morena. With the passage of time their influence grew so great that they became the capital of the Roman province of Baetica in a period of cultural splendour that produced philosophers such as Seneca, as in many ways the city was comparable to Rome itself. During the Byzantine and Visigothic periods it continued to be of great importance, but it was in the 10th century when its greatest magnificence was attained. As capital of the caliphate of Cordoba, which governed almost the entire peninsula, it enjoyed the best infrastructures while the rest of Europe sank into pre-Renaissance obscurity. Its mosques, libraries, baths, and souks contributed towards the flourishing of culture, letters, and sciences, making the city the largest, most cultivated, and most opulent in the world with between 250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants. It currently continues to be the great cultural reference point that has been preserved through the ages and is a candidate for the title of European Cultural capital for the year 2016. It has the second largest historic city centre in Europe and is the largest urban area in the world to have been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Population: 325,453

Tourist Information: Cordoba Tourist Office, Torrijos, 10 - Congress Palace, in front of the Mosque ( 957 47 12 35). Tourist information Point in Renfe-AVE Station, Arriving Hall. Open Monday to Sunday on summer from 9:30 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 20:00, on winter from 9:30 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 19:30. Tourist information Point in front of Alcazar, Campo Santo de los Mártires (in front of Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos). Open Monday to Thursday from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:00, and Friday to Sunday from 9:30 to 20:00. Tourist information Point Plaza de las Tendillas, Plaza de las Tendillas. Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 18:00 to 21:30. More information at www.turismocordoba.es ( 902 201 774).

Weather: Mediterranean with Atlantic influences, where winters are smooth despite some occasional frosts, and summers are quite warm (crossing 40°C sometimes), with important termic oscillations. Although minimum temperatures are cool, average is warmer than 27°C in July and August (warmest of Spain and Europe). Precipitations are concentrated in te coolests months, due to atlantic influence, because of the arriving of depressions from west, this situation is common between December to February, is hardly dry in summer due to mediterranean climate. This is the current weather:

Telephones: Cordoba code number is 957, even necessary for local calls. For international calls dial 00 plus the country code you wish to call. Public telephones works with coins and prepaid cards on sale at newsagents. For telephone information dial 11888 or 11822.

Airport: Cordoba Airport - ODB ( 957 21 41 00 and 902 404 704 for customer assistance) is located 6 km from the city centre on Airport Road. Passenger Terminal is at down floor in the main building featuring departure/arrival zones, cafe, offices and more services. It is linked with city centre by bus line 0-2 -at crossroad with N-437 road- Monday to Saturday from 6:30 to 22:30 and Sunday from 8:00 to 22:30; and offer 15 daily trips Monday to Friday, 11 on Saturday and 9 on Sunday; single ticket cost 1.10 €. Taxi stop is close to the terminal building, ride to city centre will cost 14 € approximately.

Train Station: Cordoba Central Station, Glorieta de las Tres Culturas ( 902 24 02 02). Thanks to AVE high speed lines Madrid-Sevilla-Málaga, Cordoba have a fast and outstanding communication between these capitals: Madrid is 1h45min (from 49.20 €), Sevilla 45min (from 21.30 €) and Málaga 1h (from 35.50 €). The station links city districts by several bus lines: 3 to Santuario, 4 to Parque Fidiana, 5 to Ciudad Sanitaria and 11 to Sansueña.

Bus Station: Cordoba Bus Station ( 957 40 40 40 ), Glorieta de las Tres Culturas (in front of the train station). Socibus ( 902 22 92 92) links Córdoba and Madrid in 4h30min (price 14.40 €).

Public Transport: Visiting the city by feet is strongly recommended, because its historic city centre and main monuments are next to each other. Local buses are provided by Autobuses Urbanos de Córdoba - Aucorsa ( 957 764 676) featuring 19 bus lines linking all the city. Single ticket costs 1.10 € and have to be directly bought from the driver. A 10 trip ticket can be purchased in newsagents by 6.50 €.

Taxis: Weekdays from 6:00 to 22:00 flag fall costs 1.24 €, plus 0.65 € each km, with a minimum fare of 3.21 €. Weekdays from 22:00 to 6:00, Saturday, Sunday and bank days flag fall costs 1.55 €, plus 0.82 € each km, with a minimum fare of 4.01 €. Airport supplement 7.10 €, station supplement 0.33 € and luggage bigger than 60 cm 0.45 €. Teletaxi, 957 76 44 44. Taxi stops are located in Plaza de las Tendillas, Glorieta de Artilleros, jardines de la Merced, Train Station (Avenida de America) and more.

Vehicles: Car parking is ruled by parquimeters, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00. Costs 0.20 €, 0.70 € & 1.50 € for 17, 57 & 120 minutes. One of the most reliable public parking is the one located at the outskirts of Juderia district, behind the ancient walls at Doctor Marañón Street. A typical way for visiting Cordoba is horse's car (40 € / 40 minutes ride). Another useful choice are electric cars (from two seats) and segway or electric skate, both can be rented in Blobject, Av. Doctor Fleming ( 957 76 00 33).

Bike rental: Acording to Manager Bike Plan (Plan Director de Bicicletas), Cordoba disposes 35 km of bike paths and several bike-parking lots, in addition Council provides Cyclocity services, four points for pick up and return one of the 35 eco-bikes which can be used by everyone (previously is necessary to purchase a free access card). Sólo Bici, Ronda de Isasa, 10.

Medical Assistance: Hospital San Juan De Dios, Carretera Brillante, 106 ( 957 27 48 11). Hospital De La Cruz Roja De Cordoba, Pº Victoria ( 957 42 06 66). Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Av. Menéndez Pidal ( 957 01 00 00). Hospital la Arrufaza, Av. Arrufaza, 9 ( 957 76 76 10).

Pharmacies: Méndez Picón Pharmacy, Av. de América, 3. 24 hours. El Globo Pharmacy, Alfonso XIII, 4 (near Plaza Tendillas). 24 hours. Pharmacy, Lucano, 17. Pharmacy, Mármol de Bañuelos, 4. Pharmacy, Av. Equipo 57. Pharmacy, Cruz Conde, 21. Pharmacy, Jerez, 1. Pharmacy, Lope de Hoces, 7.

Emergencies: All the emergencies: 112; Medical Service: 061; Local Police: 092; National Police: 091.

Restaurants: Taberna Salinas, Tundidores, 3 ( bus 3, 7 & 16). One of the bests taberns of Cordoba, good price & quality relation. El Astronauta, Diario de Córdoba, 18 ( bus 3, 7 & 16). Cordoba recipes in a modern restaurant. El Caballo Rojo, Cardenal Herrero, 28 ( bus 3 & 16). Huge range of styles but always the same good quality. Restaurante-Taberna Casa Pepe de la Judería, Romero, 1 ( bus 3 & 16). The best place to taste the typical cordobese food in a patio. El Churrasco, Romero, 16 ( bus 3 & 16). One of the bests restaurants of Andalusia, where you don't have to miss their roasted meats with holm oak's coal. Almudaina, Campo Santo de los Mártires, 1 ( bus 3 & 16). Homemade food inside a small palace of the XVI century. Taberna Casa Bravo, Puerta de Almodóvar, 1 ( bus 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9). Tapas and flamenco in a typical andalusian patio. La Caña de España, Alcalde Velasco Navarro, 10 ( bus 5 & 7). Choose a free tapa with your drink. Restaurante Bandolero, Torrijos, 6 ( bus 3 & 16). The recipes for the best local cuisine, the views and the huge range of tapas and wines are well recomended. Taberna Los Faroles, Velázquez Bosco, 1 ( bus 3 & 16). An andalusian patio at Juderia's heart is the best place to enjoy the most typical dishes. Casa el Pisto, Plaza San Miguel, 1 ( bus 1, 4, 7 & 12). One of the most ancient bistros in the city, specialized in homemade tapas. Taberna Paco Acedo, Adarve, 28 ( bus 2, 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12). A place for chatting since was set up, one of the most traditional city bistros, always offering the best quality in homemade dishes, specially oxtail.

Cafes & tea-rooms: Moloko, Alfaros, 29 ( bus 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 & 12). Teas and coffees variety till dusk, becoming pub-ambient through night. Nairobi, Doce de Octubre with Los Haranas ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). African ambience. Sojo Cafe, Benito Pérez Galdós, 3 ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). Fashioned venue designed according with vanguard tendencies, classical music by the morning and more actual hits by the evening. Avenida Park, Manuel Benitez El Cordobés, local 23 ( bus 7). Tasty breakfasts, menus and snacks. Bar Panorámico La Azotea, Av. Fray Albino, 1, close to Puente Romano ( bus 15 & 16). Placed in the Hotel Hesperia Cordoba's roof, over a privileged area with views of the most important monuments. Hamman Baños Arabes, Corregidor Luis de la Cerda, 51 ( bus 3 & 16). The best place to taste a mint tea at historic city centre in a bath hall decorated recreating the past of the city.

Tablaos: Mesón la Luna, Calleja de la Luna, 1 ( bus 3 & 16). El Cardenal, Torrijos, 10, at the right of Mosque tourist office ( bus 3 & 16). La Bulería, Pedro López, 3 ( bus 3, 7, 12 & 16).

Pubs & Clubs: Cordoba night begins around terraces of Av. Libertad and Av. América, as well as Polígono Chinales in the North exit from the city to the University area, where most of the clubs are. Theatre Café, Av. Libertad with Miguel Gila ( bus 5). One of the Cordoba night refence. Rosso, Av. Libertad with Francisco Rabal ( bus 5). Chill-out club with a nice terrace. Jazz Café, Tundidores with Rodríguez Marín ( bus 3, 7 & 16). The best jazz in town. The Freaktown, Alhaken II, 16 ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). The alternative to comercial music, offers concerts, cinema, and shows some weekends. La Comuna, Caño, 1 ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). All styles music, remarkable Thursday nights. La Solera, Córdoba de Veracruz, 9 ( bus 5, 7 & 8). Huge range of drinks and good music. O'Donoghues, Av. Gran Capitán, 38 ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). Irish pub. Sunset Boulevard, Gran Capitán, 35 ( bus 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16 & 17). Nice pub with summer terrace.

Gay venues: El Bestiario, Alfaros, 33 ( bus 1, 2, 4 & 6). Club, concert place and shows, frequented by theatre students. Soul, Alfonso XIII, 3 ( bus 1, 2, 4 & 6). Café-bar. Ra, Fernández de Córdoba ( bus 2, 5, 6, 8 & 9). One of the busiest venues.

Times changes, timetables and prices vary continuously, attractions that were once interesting are no longer so a year later, and others that were not even mentioned become a must in no time. For this reason, at infoidiomas.com we are always updating and we would be grateful if our clients would tell us about details and information that has become obsolete. We will acknowledge them by publishing their names in future editions.

It is hard to find a city that has harmonised the legacy and the traces of the peoples who have settled in her as well as Cordoba. A stroll through its streets where three key cultures coexisted in former times is the best form of travel back in time to what is considered to be the jewel of the caliphate.

A view of The alcazar from its gardens

The labyrinth of narrow streets is a sign that we are in the Jewish quarter, the earliest population centre, which is where the Muslim medina used to be located and which contains the city's most emblematic monuments. This itinerary starts at the 1st-century b.C. Roman bridge that crosses the Guadalquivir, which is delimited by the Torre de la Calahorra that houses the Museum Roger Garaudy of the Three Culture ( bus 15 & 16; daily on summer from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 20:30, on winter from 10:00 to 18:00; adults 4.50 €, children 3 €), and the Puerta del Puente, to the left of which stands the Triunfo de San Rafael. This castle-palace of the Citadelof the Christian Kings (Alcázar) deserves a special mention; it is a Roman fortress on the banks of the Guadalquivir that was subsequently the place of residence of caliphs and Christian kings and the scenario of the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada and the Colombus epic. Alfonso XI rebuilt it completely, defying Islam with a Gothic castle sculpted in stone that is noted for its towers, royal baths, gardens, and Roman mosaics in the chapel ( bus 2, 6 & 9; entrance on Calle Caballerizas Reales; Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 19:30, and on Sundays and holidays from 9:30 to 14:30; adults 4 €, students under 26 y.o. 2 €, gardens 2 €, free on Fridays). Behind the Alcázar stood the royal stables and subsequently the quarter of San Basilio, which has the prettiest patios in the month of May.

Air view of the Mosque

The Mosque-Cathedral, which has been declared a World Heritage Site, is a harmonious combination of styles superimposed during its nine centuries of construction that reflects the power and prosperity that the city enjoyed. The initiation of the work, in which numerous Omeya rulers took part, is due to Abd al-Rahman I in 785; the most spectacular reform was carried out by Al- Hakam I. The Christian conquest of the city in 1236 brought with it the conversion of this Muslim religious icon into a cathedral, and subsequently the construction of the chancel, the church, and the tower above the minaret built by Hernán Ruiz ( bus 3 & 16; Monday to Saturday March to October from 10:00 to 19:00, November to February from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 8:30 to 10:30 and 14:00 to 19:00; adults 8 €, children from 10 to 14 years old 4 €, audioguide 3.50 €, free from 8:30 to 10:00). Opposite it stands the Conference and Exhibition Centre within the building of the former general hospital of San Sebastián, adjacent to the Diocesan Fine Art Museum (close for restoration works). The area surrounding the Mosque includes the Jewish Synagogue, the only preserved building of its kind together with that of Toledo, which is next to the Handicrafts Souk ( Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 15:30 to 17:30 hours, on Sundays from 9:30 to 13:30 hours; UE citizens free). Towards the east the visitor can cross the Plazas de Tiberíades and Maimónides, where the buildings include the old Cardenal Salazar hospital, the Mudejar chapel of San Bartolomé, the caliphal baths ( Tuesday to Saturday on winter from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 18:30, on spring from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 19:30, on summer from 8:30 to 14:30, Sunday from 9:30 to 14:30; adults 2 €, students under 26 y.o. 1 €, free on Fridays), some remains of the city walls, the convent of San Pedro de Alcántara, the church of La Trinidad, and the house of the Guzmanes. Continuing through this area, which is full of pretty side streets such as Calleja de las Flores and plazas such as that of Seneca, we can contemplate the minaret of the Plaza de San Juan, the baroque church of La Encarnación, the mosque of Santa Clara, and the Palace of the Páez family (in the Plaza Jerónimo Páez), which contains the Provincial Archaeological Museum ( Tuesday from 14:30 to 20:30, Wednesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 20:30 and Sunday from 9:00 to 14:30; free except for non-EU citizens, who must pay 1.50 €).

The famous Posada del Potro

Right in the centre to delimit the Jewish quarter on its north-east side runs the Calle San Fernando, which was the main commercial axis of the city in former times and is characterised by its two-spout fountain. It can be reached from the Arco del Portillo from Almedina to Ajerquía, which in Muslim times were separated by a wall of which the renovated turret that watches over the Casa de los Marqueses del Carpio survives. In the Calle Lucano there is an architectural complex of medieval origin, which revolves around the Plaza del Potro, which is known for its fountain and is where the churches of San Francisco and San Eulogio de la Ajerquía are concentrated, founded in the 13th century as a monastery, the Posada del Potro where Miguel de Cervantes stayed, and the plateresque Hospital de la Caridad which contains two museums: that of Fine Arts ( bus 3 & 7; Tuesday from 14:30 to 20:30, Wednesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 20:30, Sunday from 9:00 to 14:30; free except for non-EU citizens, who must pay 1.50 €) and that of Julio Romero de Torres ( Tuesday to Saturday on winter from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 18:30, on spring from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 19:30, on summer from 8:30 to 14:30, Sunday all year from 9:30 to 14:30; adults 4 €, students 2 €, on Fridays entrance free). Continuing northwards along the Calle de las Armas the visitor crosses the Plaza de las Cañas and La Corredera, which has been declared of cultural interest because of its porticoed arcade on which are superimposed the medieval houses of Doña María Jacinta, the old prison, and the Casa del Corregidor ( bus 3, 7 & 16).

In the nearby Plaza de San Pedro can be found the parish of San Pedro (after the Christian conquest of the city by Ferdinand III, the monarch divided the city into quarters surrounding the churches, giving both the area and the building the same name), in which Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque motifs are combined. If we move towards the Plaza de Aguayo we can contemplate the buildings of the Church of La Regina, the parish of La Magdalena, the Church of the Carmen (with an altarpiece by Valdés Leal), the house of the Knights of Santiago, and the shrine of the Holy Martyrs, with the route ending alongside the Martos mill ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:30, on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 14:30; adults 2 €, children 1.30 €).

Patio in the Marqueses de Viana Palace

To the north lies the quarter of San Lorenzo, through which the finest images of the city are paraded at Easter, leaving behind monuments such as the churches of San Rafael and El Juramento, San Lorenzo, the church-hospital of Jesus the Nazarene, and the church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, behind which parish can be found remains of the Marrubial walls from the Almoravid period ( bus 1, 4 & 7).

The hill of San Cayetano through the Puerta of Colodro, a former access point to the Ajerquía walls, is where the quarter of Santa Marina begins ( bus 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12). Built in the 13th century, it is Cordoba's largest quarter from the late Middle Ages, and has numerous taverns where traditional cooking can be savoured, together with several points of interest such as the churches of San José, Santa Marina, San Agustín, the convent of Santa Isabel de los Ángeles, and the Palacio de Viana, a stately home that was extended with adjacent houses and contains works of art and other unique collections ( Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00; full entrance 6 €, patios 3 €). Immediately to the south lies the quarter of San Andrés, a traditional quarter of silk embroiderers that partly retains its Muslim design, with buildings such as the churches of San Pablo and San Andrés and the convent of Santa Marta, together with civil constructions such as the house of the Luna family or the Palacio de los Villalones ( bus 1, 4 & 7).

If we continue towards the west we come to the wide Plaza de Colón, which is surrounded by the gardens of La Merced and flanked by the Malmuerta tower to the north and by the former Convento de la Merced, the current county council offices, to the south-west, from which we reach the Plaza de los Capuchinos, better known as that of the Cristo de los Faroles, where the convent church of the Santo Ángel stands ( bus 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12). This plaza crowns the Cuesta del Bailío, which divides the city into high and low districts, protecting the Casa del Bailío with its plateresque gate. Continuing southwards we find the Palacio de Torres Cabrera, the Plazas de las Capuchinas and de San Miguel, and the Circulo de la Amistad, near to which stand the Town Hall, the Real Convento de San Pedro and the remains of a 1st-century Roman temple that still retains its original Corinthian capitals.

Around the popular Plaza de las Tendillas a route can be followed that adds the most traditional flavour of Cordoba to its unquestionable monumental value ( bus 3, 7, 12 & 16). The plaza owes its name to the shops (tiendas) that used to exist there in former times, soothed by the sound of a clock that strikes the hour with Flamenco guitar rhythms. To the east, the Plaza de la Compañía represents the heart of the souk, where the churches of El Salvador and Santo Domingo de Silos can be found, together with the school of Santa Catalina where Góngora studied. If we go back along the Calle Gondomar (where it joins the Avenida del Gran Capitán) we come to the Gran Teatro (theatre) and the church of San Hipólito, and on the Paseo de la Victoria the Roman Mausoleum and Amphitheatre, which give way to the Agricultural Gardens and the Botanical Gardens ( Tuesday to Saturday and on holidays from 10:00 to 18:30, on Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 2 €, children 1.30 €).

Some archs resisting erosion in Medina Azahara

MEDINA AZAHARA

8 km at southwest from Cordoba trough A-431 & CP-119 roads to Almodóvar del Río are the rests of the beautiful city of Madinat al-Zahra, prototype of Caliphate art. Madinat al-Zahra is the sumptuous palatine city that Caliph Ab'd al-Rahman III ordered to be built at the feet of the Sierra Morena in order to project a powerful image of the recently-created Independent Caliphate of Cordoba. Over 10,000 men worked on its construction for 25 years, using the best materials: marbles, precious metals, tiles, polychrome stones, etc.

The city was organised into three walled terraces. The upper part held the Alcázar Real, with the monarch and his family's private quarters; the middle terrace held the palace's bureaucratic and administrative sections, with rooms and gardens for holding audiences and receptions while the lower terrace was given over to the population's dwellings, the market and the mosque. The complex's Salón Rico was famous for its outstanding beauty with ivory and ebony archways, gold and precious stones and a bowl of mercury that caught the sun's rays and reflected them in a thousand different colours. In 1010, after seven decades of life, Medina Azahara was sacked and destroyed by the Berbers who razed most of this fabulous city to the ground. Lot of their ruins where used for building palaces and churches until it was named as National Heritage in 1923 ( bus from Paseo de la Victoria (Cruz Roja Hospital Roundabout & in front of Roman Mausoleum) Tuesday to Friday at 10:00 & 12:00, Saturday at 10:00, 12:00 & 13:00, Sunday at 10:00, back from Medina Azahara Tuesday to Friday at 13:45 & 16:45, Saturday at 13:45, 16:45 & 17:45, Sunday at 13:45; Medina Azahara opens Tuesday to Saturday May to September from 10:00 to 20:30, October to April from 10:00 to 18:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00; bus adults 6.50 €, under 12 years 3.25 €; free entrance in Medina Azahara except for non-EU citizens, who must pay 1.50 €; Cordoba Card offers a tour to the archaeological ground starting from Av. del Alcázar & Paseo de la Victoria, reservation required).