23405SPA
Walking tour with local guide.
Tour includes:
The Mezquita inside visit
A walk through the Jewish Quarter with photo stops
· Call or text local guide at least 24 hours in advance to confirm your meeting time.
· Your Araque envelope now will usually contain a print-off of your tickets – take this with you to save time.
· Payment is by voucher, please sign and check the number of pax is correct.
· You will either meet your guide next to the new visitors centre through the arch just after the Roman bridge or around the entrance of the Mosque on Torrijos Street (see map). Take your ACIS clipboard with you as it can very crowded with different groups and your guide will be looking out for the ACIS logo.
· There are toilets open to the public at the visitor centre and in the shop next to Hotel Maimonides on Torrijos street.
· Warn your group about the gypsies around the Mosque area.
· The Mezquita is a functioning church, so make sure your group is dressed appropriately.
· Please make sure everyone in your group has their whisper sets before heading out on sightseeing ( and that you have the microphone/s for the local guide)
· It is better to have lunch in Cordoba rather than on the road. There are plenty of lunch places in the Jewish Quarter behind the Mosque. Service is very slow here, so the group should ask for their bill way in advance if they are short on time.
· Sometimes it is possible to be dropped off on the other side of the Roman bridge, from here you get wonderful views over Cordoba – check with your driver before you arrive so you can plan accordingly.
On arrival in Córdoba you will be dropped off by Puerta Sevilla. (see map). Arrange a rendezvous time (guided visit takes about 1.5 hours and then you need to allow time for lunch) and place with the driver (make sure you take the driver’s mobile number in case you are delayed as the bus cannot wait there indefinitely). When you get off the bus, lead your group down to the
right ( following the old Alcazar wall on your left ) When you reach the roundabout at the bottom take a left and continue with your group until you reach the triumphal stone arch on your left. Go through it – the mosque is now visible in front of you. When you reach it walk to the left of it up the hill – this is Calle Torrijos.
If it is hot, sunny weather your group can wait just inside the patio in the cool shade. The Hotel Maimonides also has a shop with clean toilets. The toilets are not for general public use, so it is always wise to let staff know you are waiting for a guided visit so they don’t get annoyed.
Walking tour with local guide.
You will generally start the tour by visiting The Mezquita – starting in the orange tree patio and then moving inside…
After the tour, give the local guide the signed voucher. Give group free time for shopping and lunch. There are a number of restaurants in the Jewish quarter – behind the Mosque.
A – Bus Drop Off/(possible) Pick Up Point
B – Meeting place with guide & bathrooms
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Tourist office is in Centro de Recepción de visitantes
(tel. 957 469 707, 9:00-18.45, Sundays and public holidays 9.00 – 14.15)
Casa de Cultura – provides information on local theatre and music
Post office c/ Cruz Conde, 15. North of Plaza Tendrillos.
Things to do
For suggestions and ideas, visit: http://www.turismodecordoba.org/
Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes
Plaza del Potro 1 – contains some works by Zurbarán, Murillo, & Valdés Leal
Museo Arqueologico
Plaza Jerónimo Páez 7. Interesting and imaginative museum with local collection from Iberian, Roman and Moorish periods
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
A 14th century castle with a small museum housing some local Roman mosaics, the gardens are beautiful and well worth a visit.
Synagogue
Calle Maimonides. This is one of only three remaining in Spain and the women’s gallery is still intact. The stucco work is particularly impressive.
Convento de Merced
Plaza de las Tendillas. Beautiful 18th century building in Rococo style that now houses the provincial government
Bullfighting museum
In Plaza Maimonides.
Al Andalus museum
Housed in Torre Calahorra, this one time prison is now dedicated to the 3 cultures
Torre Calahorra
The watchtower at the other side of the Roman Bridge. There is an interpretation centre here that gives a good introduction to the Mezquita
Arab baths
There are two that can be visited as monuments in Cordoba. This one was the Caliphate’s Hammam which used to belong to the now-disappeared Omayad Alcazar
Shopping – Good in the new area and the old Jewish quarter.
Tapas
Taberna Los Faroles (C/ Velazquez Bosco) | Bodega Mezquita (on a parallel street to Caballo Rojo)
Hammam and Massage
Hammam on Calle Corregidor Luis de la Cerda. A ½ hour session is relatively cheap and includes a massage.
Evening activities
Flamenco – La Buleria, Calle Pedro Lopez 3 / Tablao Cardenal, Calle Torrijos 10
Concerts and festivals – In the summer there are concerts and festivals including the Festival Internacional de Guitarra. Call tourist office for information.
Walks – wander through the area around Ronda de los Tejares and Calle Reyes Catolicos.