Córdoba is a city in southern Spain. It has more than 400,000 inhabitants, making it the third largest city in Andalucía. It contains many historical sites of great importance; it is also a highly cosmopolitan city, with a great deal of shopping and entertainment available to visitors. Between its fascinating history and its modern features, it is one of the most touristed cities in Spain.
Córdoba is one of Spain's most interesting cities, with a long, fascinating history. It was originally an Iberian village; during the Roman period, it was used as a port on the Río Guadalquivir. It was used to ship Spanish goods - wine, olives, and grain - to Rome. One of the legacies of the Roman period is the Puente Romano, or Roman bridge, a large stone bridge that crosses the river, built from 16 arches. Another, less grand but historically important, is the remains of a Roman temple near town hall. The roman ruins show the city's past as a walled home to the patricians, filled with Roman pleasure facilities - a circus for chariot races, theaters, and baths.
After the Roman period, Córdoba was taken over by Germanic tribes, and greatly damaged in fights between Gothic kings. It was briefly a part of the Byzantine empire (in name if not in reality). This period was brief, as the Moorish Muslims invaded Spain in 711 CE.
During the Moorish occupation of Spain, Córdoba was the capital of the kingdom of al-Andalus, and this was its period of greatest importance. During this time, the Mezquita was built, which is still one of Spain's most important historical sites and tourist attractions, and today houses a cathedral. Córdoba also possesses an ancient Jewish synagogue - meaning that the city contains important relics of three major religions. Córdoba still retains a medieval portion, the Judería (roughly, 'Jewry'), which was originally the Jewish quarter of the city. This is a collection of homes on narrow, labyrinthine streets, filled with beautiful courtyards.
In 929 CE al-Andalus declared itself independent of the caliphate of Baghdad, making it an extremely important kingdom, and Córdoba, as its capital, became the most cosmopolitan and one of the most important and populous cities in Europe. Another trace of the Islamic rule in Córdoba is the Tower of Calahorra, built on the far end of the Puente Romano to protect the city from invaders. Córdoba was reconquered in 1236, and its Christian rulers were impressed by many of its beautiful buildings, especially the Mezquita. It became an important city in Spain but never regained its prior prominence.
Today Córdoba retains a distinctly Andalucian feel, featuring flamenco, bullfighting, and a very recognizably European atmosphere. It's warm year-round, and features superb dining and entertainment. It still retains traces of its past, such as foods still cooked as they were in the Moorish era, and buildings reflecting the range of cultures and inhabitants that the city has seen.