Architectural Córdoba: From the Jewish quarter to the Mosque-Cathedral

(8 reviews)

Córdoba audio tour: Architectural Córdoba: From the Jewish quarter to the Mosque-Cathedral

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Córdoba

Spain

$9.99

Access all 26 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

Córdoba’s blend of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian influences make it one of Andalusia’s most architecturally captivating cities. On this walking tour, you’ll stroll from the western to the central historic quarter, where every corner has a story to tell.

Starting at Puerta de Almodóvar (the Almodóvar Gate), you’ll wander through the Jewish Quarter’s narrow whitewashed alleyways. As you walk, you’ll hear how this multicultural city evolved from Roman Colonia Patricia Corduba into the intellectual capital of Europe during the Umayyad Caliphate. You’ll stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, past the imposing Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Palace of the Christian Kings).

The tour ends at the awe-inspiring UNESCO Mosque-Cathedral site, where you’ll explore the peaceful Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard) and learn about the remarkable architectural fusion that makes it unique. Throughout the tour, you’ll learn how Córdoba’s traditional architecture – from narrow, shaded streets to flower-filled patios – represents centuries of sustainable design perfectly adapted to the Andalusian climate.

On this 90-minute Cordoba tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Visit the 14th-century Córdoba Synagogue, one of only five medieval synagogues still standing in Spain
See the statue of Maimonides and learn how this Jewish philosopher and physician shaped medieval thought
Hear about the origin of salmorejo in the alley dedicated to Córdoba’s famous cold tomato soup
Explore Baños del Alcázar Califal (the ancient Caliphate Baths), once the ultimate royal spa experience
Admire the Albolafia Mill on the Guadalquivir River, so significant it appears on the city’s coat of arms
Cross the magnificent Roman Bridge, Córdoba’s only river crossing for over 2,000 years
Stand beneath the Bell Tower that conceals an original 10th-century Islamic minaret

By the end of this unforgettable walk through Córdoba, you’ll see how every corner of the city reveals another layer of Andalusia’s rich architectural heritage.

Tour Producer

WALKITECT

6 tours

Hello and welcome! I am Walkitect, a travel company born in Andalucia in Spain, that offers specialist tours by architects for curious travelers.

Together we will explore the cultural, historical and architectural depths inside the Andalusian cities. While following our audioguides you will discover at your own pace how cities like Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada or Málaga developed through time and ended up becoming what they are nowadays. In Walkitect we consider travelling as something holistic, so our tours are based on architecture, history and art but complimented with biographies of important characters or gastronomical, music or literature recommendations.

In our audio guides you will walk with Manuel, a spanish master architect, expert in Islamic and medieval construction and licenced official guide that has spent his whole professional life studying and working in the cities of Andalucia, from east to west.

In Walkitect we also make deep cultural specialist private tours in Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla and Cádiz, so if you want to walk with us visit www.walkitect.net

If you are ready... ¡vamos!

Preview Location

Location 1

Start: Puerta de Almodóvar

Hello and welcome to this route through the city of Córdoba. My name is Manuel and I am the Walkitect. It will be a pleasure to be your guide on this tour where we will see some of the most interesting spots of Córdoba, one of the architectural jewels of Andalusia. On this tou... Hello and welcome to this route through the city of Córdoba. My name is Manuel and I am the Walkitect. It will be a pleasure to be your guide on this tour where we will see some of the most interesting spots of Córdoba, one of the architectural jewels of Andalusia. On this tour we will visit different points in the western and central part of the historic center of the city, while I tell you a little about its history and gastronomy. We will finish somewhere really special, I promise: none other than one of the jewels of world architecture: The Mosque of Córdoba. As we say here: ¡Vamos a empezar!

You should be standing near the statue of a man, close to an arched gateway.

The best way to start with Córdoba is to have a first look at its history, since this city was one of the most important sites in the Iberian Peninsula several times throughout history. Take a seat close to the statue we have here, I will tell you a bit later who he is.

The origin of the name Córdoba is unfortunately unknown and already appears in its Roman name. There are several theories that defend the possibility of a Phoenician origin as "Qart-Tuba" which would mean "Good City" or a Carthaginian origin where "Kart-Juba" would be "City of Juba" a Numidian general under the command of Hamilcar Barca who died in a battle in the area around the 3rd century BC.

Are you ready to know who the one in the statue is? Ok! This is the statue of Seneca, an illustrious writer, politician and counselor born in Córdoba in the year four before our era in the Baetica, territory of the Roman Empire which named this city "Colonia Patricia Corduba." This city was established in the year 169 before our era, during the time of the Roman Republic. This city, particularly after the civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar, experienced incredible growth and became the capital of the Roman province. It is at this moment when the city experiences its maximum splendor, the first of those that would follow. Corduba had a huge forum, several temples of enormous size, theater, amphitheater, palaces, circus, and an impressive bridge. The city even had three aqueducts to supply the entire population, which comfortably exceeded 50,000 inhabitants.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Córdoba became a city of less relevance within the Visigothic territory, due to the continuous revolts that occurred against the Visigoths. However, in the year 711, Islamic troops from North Africa converted the city in 716 into the capital of the province politically dependent on Damascus, and this would be the beginning of a new period of splendor for this city. In the year 756, Córdoba became the capital of an independent emirate ruled by the Umayyad family which will become, in 929, the Umayyad Caliphate. This caliphate was a first-class commercial and cultural center and one of the most populated cities on the planet, reaching around 300,000 inhabitants according to the calculations per house done by Leopoldo Torres Balbás. The current shape of the city dates from this period, its main walls, some minarets that were reused as towers in churches, the palatine city of Medina Azahara, and of course: The great mosque of Córdoba. In front of us we can find the only remaining gate of the original Islamic wall of Cordoba: Puerta de Almodóvar. It is made with the characteristic sandstone of the area, and it originally led to Almodovar del Rio, that is where its name comes from. It was restored several times in the 14th and the 19th centuries, so it doesn't show its original shape that probably had two horseshoe arches instead of a middle point arch and a classical lintel.

Going back to the Umayyads, as they say, there is no empire that lasts a thousand years and the Umayyad Caliphate ends up completely divided, and Córdoba ends up losing its interest for the next rulers: the Almohads, who established the capital in Seville. In the year 1236, after several months of siege, Fernando III of Castile conquered the city from the Almohads. At this time the city starts its Castilian stage, becoming one of the strongholds of western Andalusia. Although during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries there were works of enormous relevance, Córdoba experienced terrible decline during the 17th and especially the 18th centuries, where the population was reduced to only 20,000 inhabitants due to epidemics, droughts, and mismanagement by its mayors and rulers. However, the 19th century and the rediscovery of Andalucia by romantic travelers set Córdoba back on the map. Córdoba is nowadays a comfortable but cosmopolitan city with 320,000 inhabitants with beautiful white and quiet alleys, houses with courtyards crowded with flowers, and an unparalleled gastronomy and agriculture.

Before we get going, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works. It uses your location to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. This means that you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent at times, when I'm not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know.

There is no better way to know you are inside a city than literally entering, as we can do through that arched gateway, the Almodovar Gate. Isn't that right?

So let's get going. Make your way through the gate. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

Puerta de Almodóvar
Córdoba Synagogue
Bullfighting Museum of Cordoba
Capilla Mudéjar de San Bartolomé
Baños del Alcázar Califal
Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba

View all

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Prta de Almodóvar, 4, Centro, 14003 Córdoba, Spain
Total distance

2km
Final location
C. Cardenal Herrero, 1, Centro, 14003 Córdoba, Spain
Distance back to start location

413.02m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts right under the statue of Séneca in front of Almodovar Gate, Centro, 14004 Córdoba, Spain. The gate is on the ancient western walls of the city of Cordoba.

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you want to expand this audioguide experience I recommend you to stop and see the Sinagogue, Saint Bartolomé Chapel, The Caliphal Baths, The Alcazar of the Christian Kings and of course, the Mosque Cathedrals. If you feel hungry try salmorejo in Bodegas Mezquita!

Best time of day

From dawn to dusk, but if you want to avoid crowds, early in the morning is always the best options.

Precautions

Be careful with the weather, don't forget water and a hat in summer and a good coat in winter. Cordoba is a safe city but always take care of your belongings and never allow the women around the cathedral to grab you or give you their rosemary.

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”