If you visit Cordoba, you can not miss seeing the city of Medina Azahara, the palatine city built by the caliphs for their use and enjoyment, located a few kilometers from the capital of Cordoba. Today we bring you five curiosities about this enclave:
1. The bright city.
It has always been said that this city arose because of the romance between Abderramán III and the beautiful courtesan Azahara, hence many translate the name of the city as 'the city of Azahara'. However, the real name, Madinat al-Zahra, means 'the bright city', since it was built with limestone, and when the sun is high in the sky, the city "shone."
2. The almond trees of Medina Azahara.
It is said that one of the concubines of Abderramán III, coming from the north of the Iberian Peninsula, had a great sadness. This was because he missed his land and the view of the snowy mountains. Due to its climatological condition, it is very rare that it snows in Cordoba, so Abderramán, to make his beloved happy, ordered to plant almond and fig trees of white flower just in front of the balcony of this lover, thus resembling a blanket of snow.
3. Visits to the Rich Room.
The Salón Rico, one of the most exceptional sites in the complex because it was the hall of the Caliphic embassies, was reopened this Christmas between December 22 and January 5. Since 2009 it has been closed to the public for restoration works, although we hope that it will soon be reopened again.
4. The source of mercury.
It is told in Arabic chronicles that there was a hall, called Maylis al-Jilafa, which had a large pond in the middle, full of water and mercury. In these chronicles we can read that Abderramán III used to frighten his companions ordering the slaves to remove the pond, "with which the room was filled with a light flashing that seized the hearts of those present," according to an anonymous Al-Andalus chronicle.
5. The legend of the fawns.
It is said that sorcerers cast a spell on Medina Azahara for being a symbol of opulence and unnecessary luxury. They incited the caliph to carve four bronze fountains whose water fountain was a fawn, thus initiating the curse that would end the Umayyad caliphate and the shining city. The fawns were stolen and separated, since it is said that if the four figures were joined again, there would be a cataclysm worse than the fall of Al-Ándalus.
Did you know any of these legends? If you want to know more, do not hesitate to visit this archaeological site that, in addition to being one of the largest in Spain, is surprising that only 10% of the entire complex has been excavated. Its history and its status have earned it the status of UNESCO Heritage in 2018, giving Cordoba the record of the city with the most monuments with this title.
If you want to visit the bright city, the schedule (between January 1 and March 31) is as follows:
From Tuesday to Saturday: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday and holidays: from 09:00 to 15:00.
Closed Monday.
Admission is free for all members of the European Union, and if you do not belong, it costs € 1.50. Also, the shuttle that goes up to the enclave costs € 2.50 and € 1.50 for children aged 5-12.
