Walking through history: the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

Monumentos

Córdoba is undoubtedly an example of a city where diverse cultures have been superimposed and have even coexisted at certain moments in history, and of course, each of the towns that have passed through the city of Calipha have left their mark, being the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs one of the best walks through Cordoba's history where the past and the present merge making us feel that we are not part of the space-time concept that marks our daily routine. Without further ado, we tell you what makes this monument declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
 
Already in Roman times this enclosure was in use as customs and residence of high officials (Procurator and Quaestor), and in Visigothic times continued active without major changes. To this day we can still see in the Alcazar capitals, columns, ashlars and more architectural elements of these two stages.
 
The great splendor of this Cordovan Alcázar will come from the hands of the Muslims. Abderramán I, Al-Hakam I and Abderramán II will be those who extend the building. They will provide infrastructure to make the place of residence more comfortable and, of course, they will be responsible for creating and maintaining beautiful gardens. What is preserved of this time is called "Alcázar Califal" of Córdoba. Today in the Campo Santo de los Mártires Square you can visit the Califal Baths built between the X and XII centuries in the original Alcázar Califal, and of course at the end of this entry we will leave information on schedules and access prices to these Bathrooms Califales.
 
It will be in the time of Abderramán III when the Caliphal Fortress is neglected for the benefit of the palatine city of Medina Azahara, and after the Christian reconquest of Ferdinand III the Saint in 1236 will be parceled out and divided between the Crown, the bishop, some noble families and the Order of Calatrava. Alfonso X the Wise, son of the aforementioned Fernando, begins the restoration of the Alcázar, as a Christian palace, being from this moment Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. The fortification of space and restructuring as a royal residence for stays in Cordoba are the work of Alfonso XI during the first half of the fourteenth century. This same Alfonso XI ordered the construction of the Mudéjares Royal Baths that can be seen today inside the Alcázar Cordobés enclosure.
 
However, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos will not always be a real residence, since in 1499 the Catholic Monarchs will make this building the seat of the Inquisition Tribunal in Córdoba, a use that will last until the beginning of the 19th century when the Cortes of Cádiz dissolve the Holy Office.
 
After the abolition of the Holy Inquisition, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos will be reused as a civil prison, in 1931 it will have a military use and in 1955 it is ceded to the City Council of Córdoba. At this moment it will begin its restoration and valorization, decorating the Hall of Mosaics with Roman mosaics discovered in Cordovan Plaza de la Corredera and dated between the II and III centuries. We also find here a sarcophagus from Roman times found in the Huerta de San Rafael del Brillante and dating back to the 3rd century.
 
Of course, to this day this incredible monument is open to visitors, we will inform you of the opening times and prices of the visit but before we want to share with you some historical facts that took place in this location and that of course you can discover in our visits guided by the historic center of Cordoba.
 
And it is that this Palace of the Christian Monarchs has been a direct witness of all kinds of events. We can not forget that the King who conditions it as a royal residence, Alfonso XI, spent long periods here with his Sevillian mistress Leonor de Guzmán, mother of ten illegitimate children of which one, Enrique de Trastámara, would become king after defeating his stepbrother Pedro I in a civil war, going down in history as Enrique II de Trastámara.
 
The Catholic Monarchs will reside frequently in this Cordovan Alcázar more than 8 years, planning from here one of the great events of his reign: the reconquest of Granada. In addition, the first meeting between Christopher Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs that would lead to the later conquest of America took place in this Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. We know that during the stay of the Catholic Monarchs the gardens suffered very serious damage, since Isabel I de Castilla was weak and ordered to stop the wheel that supplied water to this place due to the annoying noise made.
 
From Córdoba Tips Tours our experts will make you travel through Cordovan history in our guided tours. We offer free tours every day, whose mandatory pre-booking can be requested from this link: https://cordobafreetour.es/
 
Of course, if you come to Córdoba and do not know what to do, it is essential to visit both the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Califal Baths, from which you can check schedules and prices here:
 
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos:
From September 16 to June 15:
From Tuesday to Friday from 8.30 to 20.45
Saturdays from 8.30 to 16.30
Sunday and holidays from 8.30 to 14.30
Closed Monday
From June 16 to September 15:
From Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 8.30 to 14.30
Closed Monday
The price of the visit to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos is € 4.50 for adults and € 2.25 for students. The Alcázar Palace can be visited free of charge on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. from September to June and from 12:00 p.m. during summer time.
 
Baths of the Caliphal Alcázar or Caliphal Baths:
From September 16 to June 15:
From Tuesday to Friday from 8.30 to 20.45
Saturdays from 8.30 to 16.30
Sundays and holidays from 9.30 to 14.30
Closed Monday
From June 16 to September 15:
From Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm
Closed Monday
The price of the visit to the Califal Baths is € 2.50 for general admission, € 1.25 for students under 26 and free for children under 13 years old. In summer, the visit is free on Thursdays from 12.00, and from September 16 to June 15 from 18.00
 
 
 
We are waiting for you in Córdoba to show you all its charms. Look for the yellow umbrella guides, look for the excellence and quality that Córdoba Tips Tours offers.
 
 
 
What to do in Córdoba
 
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
 
Caliphal Baths
 
Free Tours
 
Córdoba Tips Tours

 

Este Sitio Utiliza Cookies. Usted Puede Leer En Nuestra Política De Cookies. Aceptar