Spain Andalucia Cordoba

catherine · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 21

Andalucia, is the southernmost province of Spain, it is just across from Africa, which is only about 35 miles away. It is not the most historic of the provinces; it certainly is not the prettiest. However it has many things going for it. It is the warmest place in Europe in winter, and the Andalucians have a joie de vie, that is unsurpassed in Southern Spain. The city of Cordoba, is not the capital of Andalucia, Seville is, however Cordoba, is a wonderful city, with many things to see and the local drink is Montilla, a type of dry sherry.

The most famous site in Cordoba, is the Mezquita, it is one of the loveliest Mosques, built by the Moors, who were expelled from Spain by Queen Isabella, and Ferdinand, in 1492. When the Moors were expelled there was tremendous ill feeling against them, and many of their buildings were destroyed, however this mosque is inside the Catholic Cathedral. The building was preserved and the Cathedral built around it. The Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos it is located just next to the Mosque. It was built on 14th cen. for the Christians Monarchs this is where the name comes from. It is a very nice fortress in the centre of Cordoba. This is the perfect place to have some rest when you are visiting the old town of the city. Here you will see a huge and beautiful garden with ponds and fountains and also is a very good place to make some good pictures. During my last visit here all numerous orange trees were full of oranges and they looks beautiful! It also houses amazing botanical gardens.

Around the mosque cathedral is the Jewish quarter, and the Jews were expelled at the same time as the Moors, in 1492, and it took another 500 years until 1993, when the law forbidding Jews to settle in Spain was repealed. This Jewish quarter houses the oldest synagogue in Spain, there were only three left after 1492.

All in all there is a lot to see and do in Cordoba, and even if you are not interested on old architecture, there are many other things to do. The area has been historically famous for leather, and there are many working tanneries you can go around, if you can stand the smell. The area is also famous for Olive Oil; the Romans conquered Cordoba, and planted some of the first olive trees in Spain. You can see today olive oil being pressed, many people in the province drive to Cordoba once a year to but enough olive oil for their year’s supply. There is also a Roman bridge still standing here in the City.