ANYWHERE
Spain
Spain: Cordoba 48 Hours
A land of color, tradition, and folklore, Andalucia, the southern region of Spain, offers a rich history, unique cuisine.
DAY ONE
Upon your late afternoon arrival in Córdoba, you will be met and taken to your accommodation in the city center. Located alongside the Mezquita, your hotel is a collection of 17th and 18th century houses.. Their accompanying gardens, fountains and patios, light and flower filled, are all very characteristic of Andalucia.
The capital of the Islamic empire al-Andalus throughout the Middle Ages, today Córdoba is a white-walled city of narrow cobblestone streets and tiled patios lined with flowers, with a unique Moorish flair. After check-in and some relaxation time, head to Plaza Corredera for a coffee or cocktail prior to dinner.
Dinner will be at Córdoba’s most renowned restaurant located in the heart of La Judería. The restaurant has a vast menu, known especially for its seafood paella and carnes a la brasa (grilled meats). Dinner tends to be late and long in Spain and especially in Andalucia, where meals are a time to enjoy and savor not only your food, but your company as well.
For those who aren’t too tired from the day, you may want to head out to one of Córdoba’s many bars or clubs, where you’ll find Cordobeses (and few tourists) partying well into the morning. You will be provided with a list of the best local nightlife in the area.
DAY TWO
After a quick breakfast at your hotel (Spanish breakfast is very basic—bread, olive oil, coffee, orange juice), you’ll be met by your guide with whom you’ll spend the day exploring the castles, churches and mosques of the city. Before lunch you’ll visit the Mezquita, the most impressive site in Córdoba and arguably in all of Spain. The Mezquita symbolizes the religious changes the city has undergone over the centuries–originally built as a mosque by Islamic architects around 900 AD, the Christians, so impressed by the mosque upon their reconquest of the city in 1236, built a Roman Catholic Church within the mosque, leaving it fully intact.
Lunch will be at a nearby tapas bar extremely popular among locals. Until the dramatic increase in food prices as a result of the entrance of the euro in 2001, tapas were served free with a drink in Spanish bars—this is one of the few remaining bars that continue to honor this tradition. Be sure to try some Andalucian favorites: berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey), salmorejo (cold tomato, bread and olive oil soup) and jamón ibérico (top quality Iberian ham).
Take time to explore the city on your own before dinner. The newer section of the city centers around a lively plaza, with shops and outdoor seating. We will provide you a list of things to do and places to visit in your free time, including the Arab baths and the city’s most famous bakery.
Dinner will be a bit earlier tonight at the restaurant of your choice, you will be provided with a list of local favorites.
After dinner head to the city’s Royal Stables on your own. There you can enjoy an Andalucian Horse and flamenco show. A breed created in 1567, the Andalucian Horse is one of the oldest thoroughbred horses in the world, and is a lasting symbol of the Spanish Empire.
DAY THREE
Quick breakfast at an outdoor café in Plaza Corredera, before beginning you final day in Córdoba. You will be met by your guide and taken to the Museo Julio Romero de Torres, located in a formal hospital that now houses the sensual portraits of Córdoban women painted by the revered local artist. With your guide you will also visit church, museum, market or patio depending on the season of your visit.
Take your final few hours of free time in the city to do some last minute shopping, or take a walk through the old section and along the river.
Last lunch in Córdoba at a restaurant situated right along the walls separating the judería from the newer part of the city. The restaurant has fabulous Spanish food and great outdoor seating, and you’ll have a long and relaxing lunch before checking out and moving on to your next destination.
Transfer to the train station by taxi to meet your return train to Madrid.
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