Córdoba

Although early by Spanish standards, I was ready for lunch when I left the Mezquita-Catedral. I found a delightful restaurant which catered for tourists wanting meals at odd times, although I was initially the first and only customer for lunch. Others soon began to arrive.

Once refreshed, it was time to explore the rest of the city.

Córdoba has its own Alcázar de los Reyes Católicos (of the Catholic Monarchs) but it is presently closed for the year for restoration. However, the gardens are open without charge, and so I managed to do the opposite of my visit to Seville’s Alcazar. As in Seville, this Alzácar replaced an earlier fortified palace built by the Umayyads in the 9-10th centuries.

Clearly November’s not the best time to look round a garden, even in southern Spain, but I enjoyed strolling around the multiple different sections in the warm sun, following in the footsteps of the Catholic Monarchs.

I then followed the bank of the Rio Guadalquivir (yes, the same river as flows through Sevilla), passing a 10th century water mill, heading for the Roman Bridge.Read more