Córdoba Favorites

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Favorite thing: It is amazing the number and diversity of the religious buildings you will see in many of the major towns and cities of Spain. Here in Cordoba we found many small churches and even the remains of a Roman temple. Sadly the Roman temple is fenced in and closed to visitors. The church of Santa Maria is just across the street from the Manolette statue. I wonder if the different types of architecture show different offshoots of Christiananity or just the taste of the individual architect who designed them during whatever period the church was built.

Favorite thing: I think that most of us have never seen a bullfight in our lives. As for me I have only been to one country (Spain) that actually does bullfights...but the name Manolete was familiar even to me as a famous bullfighter that died in the ring even before I was born. A piece of Spanish history that stays in your mind. The following web site has a pretty good piece about him.
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/bullfighting/manolete.htm

Favorite thing: Puerta del Puente (Bridge Gate) is found at the end of the bridge (now isn't that a surprise) crossing the Guadalquivir River, it and the bridge itself were supposedly built by the Romans, Julius Caesar if I remember correctly. It later had changes and repairs made to it by the Moslem rulers.

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Favorite thing: On the same street as the Synagogue and across from it is the Zoco Municipal, a project supported by the city where they have gathered together craftsmen who both work and sell at this spot. There is also a general store where they sell many products, not just from one craftsman. A great place to pick up souveniers or presents at fairly reasonable prices.

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Favorite thing: Plaza las Tendillas is a large open square in the old city of Cordova, not too far from the hostel where we stayed. We found the statue of Gonzalo de Cordova there and YES, I did have to look up the name to learn who this was. I got the following from the The Columbia Encyclopedia.....
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba , 1453-1515, Spanish general, called the Great Captain. He fought in the civil wars preceding and following the accession of Isabella I and in the conquest of Granada. He commanded the army aiding Naples against Charles VIII of France. After expeditions against the rebellious Moriscos of Granada and the Turks, he returned to Italy as an ally of Louis XII of France, who had joined with Ferdinand II of Aragón to partition Naples. When Naples had been conquered, he expelled (1502-4) the French and served as governor until 1507. He greatly improved the Spanish infantry by specializing the use of weapons.

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Favorite thing: Probably the most well known street in the old city of Cordova, the Calleja de las Flores (Street of Flowers), leads off the main throughofare into a cul-de-sac of only a few hundred meters long. There is a sign that you can see in the first photo, but you need to be on the lookout for this as it is NOT obvious, nor is it lit at night. The street is a very quiet residential street, very narrow and close, but with many plants hanging in their pots from various places. We did see this in many other places as well, some with even more plants.

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Favorite thing: The outstanding Corpus Christi monstrance by Enrique de Arfe and located in the CATHEDRAL TREASURY section of the Mosque / Cathedral, is still used in modern-day processions, giving testimony to the devotion of the people of Cordoba towards the Eucharist. This is just one of the many outstanding items in the treasury. There was just so much priceless gold pieces encased in glass. It was unbelievable.

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Favorite thing: The street running alongside the Mezquita is CALLE DE TORRIJOS. From this cobblestoned street you will see the walls of the compound with trenches running along side it for drainage. The picture shown here is one picturesque wall featuring a huge door in Mujedar style with the Arabic arches. The detail on the wall is absolutely fascinating to me.