The ultimate guide to spending 48 hours in Córdoba

7pm: As the day ends, stroll through the famous Jewish quarter, located within the historic heart of the city. A labyrinthine network of alleys with Islamic aesthetic influences stretches from the famous city gate, the Puerta de Almodóvar, to the Mosque-Cathedral. Bougainvillea and geraniums flourish throughout the narrow streets, small arched passageways, and houses with courtyards.

Some of the highlights not to be missed in the neighbourhood are the Municipal Artisans’ Market, the Mudejar Chapel of San Bartolomé, and the Cordoba Synagogue, built between 1314 and 1315 – according to the inscriptions found in the building – shortly after Alfonso X established the boundaries of the Jewish quarter.

9pm: The restaurant Garum 2.1 promises an evening of visual and culinary surprises. In the first category is the old Roman wall that is incorporated into the restaurant. The gastronomic delights are thanks to the innovative chef who helms the kitchen, Juan Luis Santiago. He fuses cod cocochas al pil pil with roast lamb kidneys, and an octopus with smoked pig’s ears. A salmorejo soup with prawns, apple, and anchovy is flavoured with amontillado sherry; it won first prize in the Córdoba Gastronómica event in 2012. Oenophiles will want to let Mariola Jiménez, an authority on and lover of Andalusian wines, guide their selections for the evening.

11.30pm: One of the alleyways in the Jewish quarter is dedicated to salmorejo cordobés, perhaps the city’s most famous dish. There is even a recipe for the tomato-and-bread soup painted on a tile on one wall along the street. Fans of the dish, led by the Cofradía Gastronómica del Salmorejo Cordobés, are attempting to have it recognized by UNESCO. It is right opposite your home in Córdoba, the boutique hotel Las Casas de la Judería.

The list of reasons why this is one of our favourite hotels in the city begins with its location, which is close to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Royal Stables, the Caliphal Baths, and the Synagogue. Here, no two rooms are the same, as the hotel is made up of several old houses, the most outstanding being the Casa Palacio de la Pavas, whose construction dates back to the 14th century. One of its owners, Canon Juan Sigler de Espinosa, gave it an elegant Renaissance makeover in 1597.

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