Insight Guides Pocket Andalucia & Costa del Sol by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Spain
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2018-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

Corrie Wingate/Apa Publications

Eight kilometres (5 miles) west of Córdoba lie the ruins of the intriguing Medina Azahara (www.medinaazahara.org; Tue–Sat 9am–6.30pm, until 8.30pm Apr–mid-Jun, mid-Jun–mid-Sept until 3.30pm; Sun 9am–3.30pm all year; free admission for EU citizens). It was commissioned in 936 by Abd-ar-Rahman III in honour of his favourite concubine, Al Zahra (The Flower). Records indicate that building materials for the grand design were brought from Constantinople and various North African locations. Despite such auspicious beginnings, it had a short life; the palace was razed with the break-up of the caliphate of Córdoba in the early 11th century. For nearly 900 years, it was left in ruins and only in 1910 did excavation work begin. Today, reconstructions give some impression of the magnificence of this sumptuous complex of baths, schools, gardens and stately apartments, built on three terraces. A special tourist bus runs to the Medina (Tue–Sun 11am, also 10am Sat–Sun and 4.30pm Tue–Sat in summer) from Avenida Alcázar in Córdoba (book one day ahead at the tourist office).

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