Córdoba, Spain

2007-05-26T20:12:13Z

85.211.58.231: /* External links */

{{Spanish city |
image_skyline = Mosque_of_cordoba_.JPG|
image_skyline_size = 250px|
image_skyline_caption = The pillar forest of the [[Mezquita]] |
native_name = Córdoba |
spanish_name = Córdoba |
image_flag = Bandera cordoba.jpg|
image_flag_size = 150px|
image_coat_of_arms = Escudo Córdoba.PNG|
image_coat_of_arms_size = 100px|
image_city_map = Cordoba, Spain location.png|
image_city_map_size = 150px|
lat_long = {{coord|37|53|0|N|4|46|0|W|display=inline,title}}|
time_zone = CET (GMT +1)|
time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)|
founded = 8th century BC|
native_language = Spanish|
community = Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía|
community_link = Andalusia|
province = Córdoba|
province_link = Córdoba (province)|
mayor = Rosa Aguilar|
political_party = IU|
political_party_link = IU (Spain)|
area = 1252|
altitude = 120|
population = 321.164|
date-population = 2005 |
density = 256,5|
date-density = 2005|
website = http://www.cordoba.es/|
postal_code = 140xx|
}}
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
| WHS = Historic Centre of Cordoba
| Image = [[Image:Mezquita Orange Tree Courtyard.jpg|300px|Interior court of the Mezquita]]
| State Party = {{ESP}}
| Type = Cultural
| Criteria = i, ii, iii, iv
| ID = 313
| Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe and North America]]
| Year = 1984
| Session = 8th
| Extension = 1994
| Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/313
}}

'''Córdoba''' (in English: '''Cordova''') is a [[city]] in [[Andalucía]], southern [[Spain]], and the capital of the [[Córdoba (province)|province of Córdoba]]. Located at 37.88° North, 4.77° West, on the [[Guadalquivir]] river, it was founded in [[ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] times as '''Corduba''' by [[Claudius Marcellus]]. Its population is 321,164 as of [[2005]].

Today a moderately sized modern city, the old town contains many impressive architectural reminders of when Córdoba was the thriving capital of the [[Caliph of Córdoba|Caliphate of Córdoba]] that governed almost all of the Iberian peninsula. It has been estimated that Córdoba, with up to 500,000 inhabitants in the tenth century, was certainly the largest city in Western Europe and, perhaps, in the world.

==History==

Cordoba was the capital of the Roman province ''Provincia Hispania Ulterior Baetica'', time of splendor, in which there were a lot of fantastic buildings. Great philosophers like Lucius Annaeus [[Seneca the Younger]], orators like [[Seneca the Elder]] and poets like [[Lucan]] expressed themselves in those palaces. Later, it occupied an important place in the ''Provincia Hispaniae'' of the Byzantine Empire and during the Visigoth period.

Cordoba became a capital once more during the ''Independent Emirate'' and the ''Western [[Umayyad]] [[Caliph of Córdoba|Caliphate]]'', the period of its apogee, with a population ranging between 250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants.
At the 10th century, Cordoba was one of the largest cities in the world, as well as a great cultural, political and economic center. To this time dates back the Mosque of Cordoba. Nowadays Cordoba is a great cultural focal point in the South of Europe, considered as one of the most beautifully conserved cities, and of great quality of life in Spain.

With one of the most extensive historical heritages in the world (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO the 17th of December 1984) the city features various modern areas: The districts of Zoco and Plan RENFE (train station) by its urban dimensions and high quality of housing are very pleasant although prices are high.

Cordoba is a candidate for European Capital of Culture for 2016. The ''Junta de Andalucía'' has been studying for a time, the creation of the ''Metropolitan Area of Cordoba'' that would be composed, in addition to the capital, of the populations of Villafranca, Obejo, the Carlota, Villaharta, Villaviciosa, Almodóvar of Ri'o and Guadalcázar. Thus, it would represent an approximate population of 351,000 inhabitants.

==Geography==

Its location on the borders of the Guadalquivir river and its easy access to the mining resources of the ''Sierra Morena'' (coal, lead, zinc) allow to satisfy the population’s needs.

The city is located in a depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir.
In the North is the ''Sierra Morena'', which delimitates the borders of the municipal territory.

==Climate==

Cordoba has a Mediterranean climate, with Atlantic influences.
Winter are are smooth with, sometimes, some isolated frost.

Summers, with important daily thermal oscillations, have the highest maximum temperatures in Europe, exceeding 40º on several occasions in every year.

Although the minimum temperatures are cooler, the average temperature exceeds 27º in July and August (the highest in Spain and Europe)
Precipitation is concentrated in the coldest months. This is due to the Atlantic influences. Those precipitations happen by the entrance of storms from the west (situation that occurs more often in the period of December to February) and displays a strong summer, with big drought, typical of Mediterranean climates.

Annual rains surpass on average 500 mm, although there is an important interannual irregularity. In agreement to the climatic Classification of Köppen the climate of the city could be defined as Csa.

The registered maximum temperatures in the Observatory of the Cordoba Airport (located at 6 km of the city) are 46,6º of the 23th July of 1995 and 46,2º of the 1st August of 2003. Minimum temperature is -8,2º on the 28th January of 2005.

==Important buildings==

===Religious architecture===

* The Mosque-Cathedral: The mosque, which dates back to the Muslim period, was converted to a Cathedral at the [[Reconquista]].
* Synagogue (14th century)
* Fernandine and Alphonsine-style churches (13th century)
* Monasteries and broods (some of them are desafected)

===Civil and military architecture===

* Alcázar of the Christian Kings (14th century)
* Palace of Viana with its flowered patios (16th century)
* Royal residences and palaces
* The Tower of Calahorra (14th century)
* The Door of the Bridge (16th century)
* The ''Placa Vieja''
* Walls and towers of the Muslim and Christian period

===Archaeological sites===

* Roman archaeological remains (temple, mausoleum)
* Islamic archaeological remains (minarets preserved in the churches, Arab baths...)
* Archaeological site of [[Madinat Al-Zahra]] (10th century)
* The Roman Bridge

==Parks & Gardens==

* Garden of the Victory
* Garden of the Rivas Duc
* Garden of the Agriculture
* Garden of the Conde de Vallellano
* Garden of Juan Carlos I
* Park Cruz Conde
* Sotos de la Albolafia
* Balcón del Guadalquivir
* Peri-urban park of Los Villares
* Park of the Miraflores

==Famous people born in Cordoba and its Provincia==

Córdoba was the birthplace of four famous philosophers: in Roman times the [[stoic]] [[Lucius Annaeus Seneca|Seneca]], in Islamic times the Muslim [[Averroes]] and the Jewish [[Maimonides]] and, in the [[Renaissance]], possibly [[Abraham Cohen de Herrera]]. Córdoba was also the birthplace of the Roman poet [[Lucan (poet)|Lucan]], the medieval Spanish poet [[Juan de Mena]], and the renaissance [[Luis de Góngora]], who lived most of his life and wrote his most important works but one in Córdoba. More recently, several [[flamenco]] artists including [[Paco Pena|Paco Peña]], [[Vicente Amigo]], and [[Joaquín Cortés]] were born there as well.

==References and notes==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Córdoba}}
* [http://www.aspainattraction.com/spain-attractions-ad/cordoba.html Cordoba Tourism] Maps and descriptions of tourist attractions in Cordoba
* http://www.infocordoba.com An insider's guide to visiting Cordoba.
* http://www.cordoba24.info/english Attractions, hotels, restaurants, activities
* http://www.castillosnet.org/cordoba/index1.shtml
* [http://www.cordobapedia.org Cordobapedia]
* [http://nachom-galiza.blogspot.com/2006/10/crdoba-patrimnio-mundial.html Photography from Córdoba]
* [http://www.lucadea.com/static.php?page=cordova Lucadea.com] - 33 pics of the city

{{World Heritage Sites in Spain}}

[[Category:Córdoba province|Cordoba]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Spain|Cordoba]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Spain]]
[[Category:Al-Andalus|Cordoba]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Córdoba|Cordoba]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Spain|Cordoba]]
[[Category:3rd century BC establishments|Cordoba, France]]



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[[ca:Còrdova]]
[[cs:Córdoba (španělské město)]]
[[da:Cordoba]]
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[[et:Córdoba]]
[[es:Córdoba (España)]]
[[eo:Kordovo (Hispanio)]]
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[[fr:Cordoue]]
[[gl:Córdoba, España]]
[[hr:Córdoba, španjolski grad]]
[[it:Cordova]]
[[he:קורדובה (ספרד)]]
[[lad:Kordova]]
[[la:Corduba]]
[[nl:Córdoba (Spanje)]]
[[ja:コルドバ]]
[[no:Córdoba (Spania)]]
[[nds:Córdoba]]
[[pl:Kordowa]]
[[pt:Córdoba (Espanha)]]
[[ro:Córdoba, Spania]]
[[ru:Кордова (город, Испания)]]
[[simple:Cordoba]]
[[sk:Córdoba (mesto v Španielsku)]]
[[sr:Кордоба (град у Шпанији)]]
[[fi:Córdoba (Espanja)]]
[[sv:Córdoba, Spanien]]
[[th:กอร์โดบา (สเปน)]]
[[tr:Cordoba]]
[[ur:قرطبہ]]
[[zh:科爾多瓦 (西班牙)]]

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Córdoba, Spain