Córdoba

History

How the city came to be

Córdoba was already an important city in Andalusia in Roman times, and the bridge over the river and remains near the old town point to its early role in transport. From the 8th century the city became the political, commercial and scholarly centre of al-Andalus; construction of the mosque began in the 8th century and it was later enlarged several times. Medieval lanes and inner courtyards carry traces of different communities sharing the city, and today's Jewish Quarter keeps its winding street network, where the 14th-century synagogue still reveals a layer of religious culture. After the Christian kingdom captured Córdoba in 1236, the mosque was converted into a cathedral, and other religious and defensive buildings were also reused. The modern city kept growing along the river and around the edge of the old town. In 1984 the mosque was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, and in 1994 the listing was extended to part of the historic centre, the Alcázar and the riverside area around the Roman Bridge. The Córdoba Patios Festival was inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012; it combines residents' homes with a public festival, so when you visit, treat these private living spaces as places where people live.

1. Roman periodCórdoba became an important city, with river transport and the bridge shaping the city's layout.
2. 8th centuryConstruction of the Great Mosque began, and it was later enlarged several times.
3. 1236The Christian kingdom captured Córdoba, and the mosque was gradually turned into a cathedral.
4. 1314–1315The synagogue in the Jewish Quarter was built.
5. 1984The Mosque of Córdoba was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
6. 1994The World Heritage listing was extended to part of the historic centre, the Roman Bridge and other areas.
7. 2012The Córdoba Patios Festival was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Stories

Stories of the city