On this full day tour, you'll visit the UNESCO-listed old town of Cordoba in May, when it comes to life during the annual patio competition. You'll see the flower-festooned patios on a guided tour, discover the great mosque and enjoy free time to explore. Paco, one of our local guides, says, ‘Scratch beneath the surface in Cordoba, and you'll find the orient. Everywhere you look, the past stares back at you. And for a true flavour of modern Cordoba, make sure to try our trademark chilled salmorejo soup.'
Once the biggest city in Europe, Cordoba offers up an exotic mix of Roman, Moorish, Christian and Jewish influences – all reflected in the old town. You'll set off on an extended walking tour of the San Basilio neighbourhood to see it all for your own eyes, while also taking in a couple of the patios decorated in flowers for the festival that takes place throughout May. They bring so much colour to the city and are eminently instagrammable.
Afterwards, you'll be handed your ticket to enter the medieval mosque, or Mezquita – Cordoba's showpiece. Get the lowdown from your expert local guide on the history behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It boasts 800 two-tiered arches, honeycombed domes and many more treasures. Uniquely, it hosts a no-expense-spared decorated Renaissance cathedral in its core. There's also free time for lunch – why not head to La Juderia for a salmorejo? – and the chance to cross the famous Roman Bridge by foot.
