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.