The current high temperatures warn us of the imminent arrival of spring, at which time our city is adorned with the celebrations of this season that make Cordoba even bigger than it already is, since it is the time of Holy Week , of decorating the patios and of course, of the fair of Our Lady of Health.
Like the great majority of current fairs, ours originates from a cattle fair, that is, an itinerant market that was held in each city at a certain time as authorized by the monarch who governed.
The peculiarity of the origin of the fair of Our Lady of Health is that it would be the oldest in Andalusia, because we have evidence that King Sancho IV granted the city the privilege of organizing two annual cattle fairs in 1284, coinciding with the day of Cincuesma and the other with the first of Lent. This privilege will be endorsed by various kings, such as the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 or Philip II in 1556.
According to tradition, the religious name of this fair that was originally cattle comes from the moment in 1665, near the Puerta de Sevilla and during the fair, two farmers found the image of a virgin of reduced dimensions inside a well whose waters restored health to those who drank it. For this reason, from this moment until the beginning of the 19th century, the Cordoba fair was held in the vicinity of the Seville gate.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the livestock fair was moved to the Victoria Gardens, maintaining its livestock character and also having canvas booths where there were tastings and drinks. The tradition tells that from its first moments, the morning was dedicated to business and the night to celebrations.
During the civil war this fair continues but loses the festive part, also staying during the dictatorship. At the end of the 20th century, the fair was moved to its current site in El Arenal to allow its expansion.
It is very interesting to know that during the Cordoba fair, which takes place the last week of May, all the booths are freely accessible both for locals and for those who come to visit, being able to find traditional music to modern music, and especially during the day we can delight with the horses that walk around the enclosure accompanied by women and men dressed in traditional costumes. It is also the date in which the most important bullfights in the city take place.
You already know that you can not miss our spring parties, and to continue discovering the heart of the city and discovering what to do in Córdoba, do not hesitate to join our guided tours. From Córdoba Tips Tours we offer two different routes: Historical Center (Puerta de Almodóvar at 11:00 in Spanish and at 13:30 in English) and Legends of the Jewish Quarter (Puerta de Almodóvar at 17:00 both languages). Do not forget that you need a previous reservation -in www.cordobafreetour.es- to secure a place in the tours, we are waiting for you!
