Córdoba

In its prime Cordoba was Europe's largest city, a vibrant center of culture and learning -- considered in Islam to be the second most important city -- the Mecca of the west.

Reachable by AVE (Spain's bullet train) from Madrid, Cordoba is often thought of as just a quick day trip from the capital. Cordoba is no sleepy, historical site: Cordoba is Spain's 10th largest city by population with over 300,000 residents. The entire city is walkable and is quite a change from many of Spain's touristic cities. Cordoba will remind you of a small provincial town centered around a historical zone, is dominated by the magnificent Mezquita - the Great Mosque of Cordoba. The Mosque originated in 785; certainly the biggest and most beautiful constructed in Spain and this will be the highlight of your stay.

If you call it quits at just seeing the Mezquita then you'll miss Cordoba's real charm -- while Cordoba doesn't merit much more than an overnight stay, you'll want to see the highlights of all the places they stayed in Spain. Consider spending an afternoon to wander around the narrow streets of the Judería (Jewish Quarter) with its flower filled terrazas. Be sure to make a quick visit to one of the last three remaining Synagogues in Spain, the other two are in Toledo.

Nature lovers will adore the beautiful gardens of the Catholic Kings (Alcazár) where Columbus first sought funds for his voyage to the new world from Fernando and Isabella. Take a leisurely walk across the Roman bridge past the Moorish waterwheels to the other side of the Guadalquivir river and you'll be able to snap a stunning shot with a panoramic view of the historical heart of the city. Save this for the end of the day and you'll get a particularly beautiful photo of the sunset.

Cordoba is more than just churches, palaces, monuments and museums. It is a very special place for a day or two, wandering its tiny streets, relaxing in the many beautiful plazas, drinking in its traditional old bars and dining in its fine restaurants is time well spent.

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