Following a recommendation.
We had been told by several people, to visit Cordoba and so we did. The city is one of Spain’s oldest cities and was founded long before Roman times. Its historic center is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and one can certainly understand that.
Cordoba has so much to offer.
Some of the city’s major sights include the Roman Bridge, the Cathedral and the 3 Gates. All beautiful and historic buildings, but as you walk around in Cordoba, you encounter so much more.
A great meal at Mason San Basilio.
We arrived in the evening and decided to go out for dinner. Already on the walk through the streets in the twilight, we knew that Cordoba was something special. We were looking forward to seeing the city in daylight. Everywhere there were flowers on the walls, from balconies and in pots and the city was one of the friendliest we had ever gone to. People were smiling and laughing and in a small side street we found a lovely restaurant. It was in the middle of a small covered yard and the food was simple but very tasty. Even the starter, which was just a chicken soup, tasted like plenty af time and good cooking. The steak that followed was one of the best we had ever had. We couldn’t argue over the price either, so if you plan on visiting Cordoba one day, do stop by at Meson San Basilio.
The city of joy.
After a good night’s sleep, we headed out into the old part of Cordoba’s narrow streets. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere and all the flowers were exactly as we had imagined the night before. And then even more. The Cordobans glow with joy and radiate so much hospitality, that you can’t help but to walk around with a smile on your face. Wine, water and tapas are bought at the small cafes, and consumed outside, at small tables or just on a staircase or a low wall. Meanwhile, while eating and drinking, there is lively talk and laughter. It’s amazing to experience.
A genius watering system.
The video below shows one of the things, we really enjoy to see. Things that are founded and invented many years ago, and still works. This is a watering system with small “gates” that can be opened and closed, leading the water to the trees. Pretty clever right?
The amazing orange trees.
Speaking of trees. The old part of Cordoba is full of orange trees, whose scent struck us as we entered the city. This amazing scent is comparable to the scent of lilacs on a hot day, but to a much greater extent. And of course its not the scent of lilacs, but orange blossoms. In Cordoba they make their own perfume from the orange flowers and we had to buy one as a reminder of this wonderful smell. If you ever get the opportunity to go to Cordoba, do so in March / April where the orange trees are in bloom. It’s something very special.
Another overwhelming church.
Of course, we were also visited a church. This time it was Iglesia del Salvador y Santo Domingo. Although it was not the famous cathedral it was, as always, an overwhelming experience. Entering a Spanish church is like stepping into a craft museum. In addition to the wood carvings and gold leaf, this church also had a large piece of artwork made out of at least 5 different types of marble. Imagine what a job it must have been to carve that out.
The new part of town.
The rest of the day we spent walking around Cordoba looking at flowers and statues and of course eating food and drinking coffee. We also walked past the royal stables, which unfortunately did not have a show when we arrived. We went for a short walk in the new district and although it also had some beautiful buildings, it still could not match the charm, atmosphere and beauty of the old town. Cordoba is definitely one of the cities we will return to at some point.
M&E
–Text and photos: Eva. Adding, captures, photos and photo editing: Malthe
