Festival of the Courtyards of Cordoba
Visual and gastronomical delights in one of Spain's most stunning cities.
With spring comes the profusion of flowers, warm sunshine and outdoor dining, and the best place to enjoy them all is Cordoba during their annual Courtyard Festival. Every May, the stunningly designed private courtyards that are hidden away for most of the year, open their doors to the public.
Many ancient Mediterranean civilisations left their mark on Spanish culture, especially the Romans who designed their houses with a central courtyard, or patio. The Arabs, who came later, added the flowers and citrus trees and in spring the city becomes awash with the smell of jasmine and orange blossom.
The patios are places where family and friends come together, and the whitewashed walls, wells, fountains, marble or ceramic tiled flooring all help to provide a cooling oasis during the hot Andalusian summers.
Creating compositions with the colours and textures of the geraniums, jasmine, tuberose, roses, carnations, and citrus trees that fill the patios is a true work of art. Most of the courtyards are located in the oldest neighbourhoods, such as the Jewish Quarter, San Basilio, San Augustin, Santa Maria and San Lorenzo.
Many patios also host demonstrations of traditional flamenco singing, dancing and guitar playing, and offer tapas and local Mantilla-Moriles wine. After a day of wandering under the hot Cordoban sun, there is nothing more welcoming than a cold glass of Sangria or a chilled Fino sherry or wine.
For more food and music you can also head on over to San Basilio in the Alcazar neighbourhood, one of the best places to visit for bars and live music. There are so many restaurants to choose from that offer delicious Cordoban specialties. Try a tapa or two of fried whitefish or fried eggplant with honey. Or sample the local specialty Salmorejo Cordobes - a thick cold tomato soup made with bread and sherry, topped with jamon (cured ham) and boiled egg.
The thick cold garlic soup, ajo blanco, is also a must-try, especially served with a chilled glass of Montilla-Moriles wine. For those who prefer a more protein-rich dish, flamenquines are another favourite, made of pork loin, jamon, and cheese, all rolled up and deep fried. Or, for the slightly more brave, the caracoles (snails) are served in a glass filled with a spicy minty broth and dug out of their shell with a toothpick.
Spring is a glorious time to visit Cordoba, but the southern climate and the beautiful historic sites make it a perfect place to visit any time of year.