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In the 10th century, Cordoba was one of the richest and most prosperous cities in Europe, which reflected in the luxury and splendour displayed. Cordoba's Mosque was one of the biggest in the world, second only to Mecca's Mosque. But Cordoba wasn't just about the Mosque- it had public lamps, exquisite palaces, baths, stunning libraries, and was inhabited by an unusual number of scholars and artisans.  How to go: You can reach Cordoba by train from Madrid, Seville, Granada or Malaga. For more information access Renfe website. More on Cordoba: Jewish Quarter Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos Mosque-Cathedral Roman Bridge and Puerta del Ponte Episcopal Palace

Visit this palace, just opposite the west front of the Mosque-Cathedral, for a 20 minute guided tour through Cordoba's history. The palace was built on the remains of a Visigoth palace. Some of the Muslim architecture still survives, along with a gothic ogee arch from the 15th century, but most of its present day appearance results from reconstruction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Opening hours :Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.;  (Oct.-May 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and  9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Saturday) Entrance fee : €1, including guided tour.

Roman Bridge The Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir river dates back to the 1st century BC. However, only the foundations are Roman as the bridge underwent major reconstruction during the Arab occupation. The Calahorra Tower, on the southern end of the bridge, was built during the Middle Ages. In the middle of the bridge, there's a 17th-century statue of St. Raphael, who is worshipped for having saved the city from the Plague. During its history, the bridge was renovated and repaired several times, the last of which in 2005. Thus, only the 14th and 15th arches are original. The Roman Bridge was featured in season 5 of the popular TV series "Game of Thrones" as the long bridge of Volantis. Puerta del Ponte The Puerta del Ponte is a Gate built over the only remains of the original Roman walls that protected the city. In the 16th century, the authorities decided to rebuild the gate due to the state of the original, centuries old, gate, as it was one of the mai...

The Jewish quarter of Cordoba stands north-west of the Mosque-Cathedral and dates back to the Roman Empire. However, it was most prosperous under the Caliphate of Cordoba, preserving many of its Moorish features. Its small synagogue, built in 1315, is the oldest medieval synagogue in Andalucia. For those who appreciate, there's also a Bullfighting Museum- Museo Taurino de Cordoba.

The Castle of the Christian Monarchs is a military fortification, built by orders of Alfonso XI de Castilla in 1328, over previous constructions, mainly Arab. It was home, for eight years, to the Christian Monarchs, Fernando II de Aragon and Isabel I de Castilla during their campaign against the kingdom of Granada. It was later used as one of the first tribunals and headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition, which converted much of it in interrogation and torture chambers. The Alcazar served as a garrison for Napoleon Bonaparte and his troops in 1810 and was later converted into a prison. It was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1994 (extension). Opening hours : Monday to Saturday 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2.30 p.m. Sundays and holidays). Closed on Mondays and August 15th. Entrance fee : €4.50 How to go: From Seville (about 40 minutes, aprox. every hour, €21) or Madrid (about 1h50m, every 30 minutes, €62.70) you can take the AVE train. More information here . ...

The Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral was built on top of the Visigothic Saint Vincent's basilica, which was destroyed by orders of Abdemarran the II, to give way to the main mosque of the city. It dates back to the 10th century when Cordoba was one of the most prosperous cities in Europe. The Mosque was consecrated as a Christian Cathedral in the same year Cordoba was reconquered but few changes occurred during the next three centuries.It was only in the 16th century that the renaissance cathedral, in the middle of the mosque, was built. Opening hours : Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (6 p.m. Nov. to Feb.) Sundays and holidays 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (6 p.m. Nov. to Feb.) Ticket (standard) : €8