The Moors made Cordoba the capital of al-Andalus and it was considered to be one of the great cities of the world for its culture and architecture in the 10th century. Although Cordoba has seen many turns of fortune since then, there's enough culture to satisfy even the most avid academic, alongside excellent food and wine and a vibrant nightlife.

Cordoba's Mezquita

The main draw is the Mezquita, an extraordinary combination of mosque and cathedral and an embodiment of the cultural history of Andalucia. First a mosque, founded in 785, the building then had a cathedral placed right in the middle of it in the 16th century.

Inside the great mosque-cathedral of Mezquita, Cordoba

A city of culture

Cordoba is also the only city in Andalusia that has a surviving medieval synagogue, located in the picturesque Juderia, the old Jewish quarter to the north of the Mezquita. This maze of medieval lanes is full of distinctive whitewashed buildings with flower-filled window boxes. Alongside the myriad historical treasures, Cordoba offers much modern fun in the way of its numerous notable restaurants, busy bars and vibrant nightlife.

Cordoba, Spain