Although Córdoba is known as the city of three cultures, the eight centuries of Arab rule left an indelible mark on its architecture, culture, gastronomy, and even its traditions. Córdoba is a caliphal city where the scent of its Muslim heritage still lingers in its streets and courtyards. Today, we can explore in depth the Arab Córdoba that was once the envy of Europe.
The Arab Historical Legacy in Córdoba
Back in the year 929, Abd al-Rahman III founded the Caliphate of Córdoba, marking the beginning of the city’s most glorious era. By the 10th century, Córdoba had become the center of the Arab empire, stretching from Damascus to the Atlantic Ocean.
Qurtuba rose to become the capital of the world, boasting a population of nearly half a million inhabitants, among whom were some of the most prominent scientists, mathematicians, astronomers, artists, and philosophers of the time.
The first caliph, Al-Hakam II, ordered the construction of Medina Azahara — the palatial city that became his residence until his death — and completed the expansion of the mosque, whose construction had begun in the year 786, three decades after Córdoba had been proclaimed the capital of the independent Emirate of Al-Andalus.
It was under Abd al-Rahman I that the first expansion of the mosque took place, along with the reconstruction of the city walls and the Alcázar (upon which Alfonso XI later built a new palace for the Christian kings). Abd al-Rahman II carried out the second major expansion. Under Abd al-Rahman III, Córdoba entered its greatest period of splendor, although the third major expansion of the mosque was carried out under the vizier Almanzor.
In 1013, the caliphate collapsed and the taifa kingdom was declared, until the city finally fell — yet the Arab imprint on Córdoba remained forever etched into its identity.
In 1984, the Mosque of Córdoba — now a Christian cathedral — was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary blend of cultures and architectural styles. It is the most iconic of Córdoba’s Arab monuments, though by no means the only one that survives to this day.
Another emblematic site of Córdoba’s Muslim heritage is its Arab baths — magical spaces that bear witness to the city’s caliphal past. Architecturally, the hammams symbolize the advancements in hygiene introduced by the Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula, and even today we can still experience this source of health and well-being. In the time of Almanzor, more than six hundred of these baths were recorded throughout the city.
