At the heart of the Córdoba province, cut in two by the River Guadalquivir, Guadalquivir en Córdoba is where the city of Córdoba itself is located. Steeped in a history stretching back to Roman times with the impressive and magical Mesquita, the Great Mosque, as its centre point, Córdoba is a vibrant and bustling city that was once the forerunner in intellectual and technological advancement in Europe. Beyond Córdoba itself are attractive villages built on the banks of the Guadalquivir and crowned with ancient castles. Backed by the impressive Sierra Morena to the north, the countryside is never far away and outside the villages and towns lay endless possibilities for walkers, cyclers and horse-riders and there are large reservoirs as well as the river itself to cater for watersport lovers of all kinds.

Córdoba
Beneath the Sierra Morena, on the northern banks of the Guadalquivir river, Córdoba is an enchanting Andalucían city, rich in a history whose relics still stand today. Córdoba was an important town in Roman times and it continued to thrive under the Moors who made Córdoba the capital of the Al-Andalus empire. During the 10th century, Córdoba was an international player and it became known as one of the greatest cities in the world because of its splendid architecture, its size and its important intellectual and cultural developments. Abd al Rahman III invited great scholars, philosophers and architects from the Middle East to come and live in Córdoba, thus creating for the city the reputation for being the seat of cutting edge intellect. Andalucía became one of the most powerful regions of Europe and an area far more advanced technologically and scientifically than its counterparts. After it was recaptured by the Christians in 1236, Córdoba went i!nto decline and, in contrast to the vibrant place it is today, Córdoba was described by travellers as a sad and melancholy place. Indeed, a famous poem by García Lorca opens: "Córdoba, lejana y sola" (Córdoba, distant and lonely).
A busy, thriving city of 300,000 inhabitants, Córdoba attracts many tourists, most of whom come to see the Mezquita, or the Great Mosque. This magnificent structure was built under the Umayyad dynasty, beginning as a modest building in the 8th century, which was added to over the centuries until it was the largest and grandest mosque in the Muslim world. Although the exterior of the building is uninspiring, the delights of the Mesquita are to be found inside the building. Exquisite marble columns take up the interior, stretching in all directions like a maze. Originally, there were 1293 of these columns, which are intricately decorated and awe inspiring. These pillars are constructed from alternating layers of chalk and brick, making up lovely designs and textures. Hidden inside the mosque, facing Mecca, is the mihrab prayer niche. After the conquest of Córdoba by the Christians, many Moorish buildings were destroyed. The Mesquita, however, was preserved due to its! beauty and converted into a Christian building of worship. The Mesquita has to be seen to be fully appreciated although it has inspired numerous writings by travellers over the years who have struggled to put the magic of the Mesquita into words.
The rest of Córdoba is often overshadowed by the Mesquita, although it should not be. The centre of Córdoba is dominated by the Plaza de las Tendillas, with its public clock that chimes flamenco music. Just south of here is the San Miguel area with its pleasant old bars and further south still, the Jewish district where the balconies of whitewashed houses are decked with colourful flowers. Many of the houses are now shops catering to tourists selling goods of Moorish origins. Nearby is the Callejo de Flores, a small cul-de-sac decorated with a multitude of flowers from where the minaret of the Mesquita can be seen. Next to the River Guadalquivir, behind the Mesquita, is the Alcázar - the palace fortress with extensive gardens from which the Spanish Inquisition was carried out during the reconquest. Other sites of interest in the city include the Museum Taurino, dedicated to bullfighting, which contains a replica tomb in honour of the famous bullfighter, Manolette. H!anging on the wall of his tomb is the skin of the bull responsible for goring Manolette to death. The Museo Arqueologico contains Roman and Moorish relics and the Museo Julio Romero de Torres contains works from this famous Córdoban artist.
Córdoba is situated at the centre of the Córdoba province, 150km from Seville, 200km from Granada and 170km from Málaga and the coast. To the north of Córdoba and the Guadalquivir river are the sparsely populated Sierra Morena with its wild countryside and national parks whilst to the south are villages and towns scattered over the Andalucían plains. 8km from Córdoba, in the foothills of the Sierra Morena is the 18 hole golf course of Los Villares. Córdoba airport is located 6km from the city although at present it does not serve as an international terminal. The nearest airports are located at Seville and Málaga, which is served by budget airlines. The Seville to Madrid rail line runs through Córdoba, providing regular and swift rail links to the rest of the country.

Almodóvar del Rio
Built just above the Guadalquivir River, Almodóvar, with a population of 7000, is notable for its striking castle which rests upon a mound near to the river. The castle is heavily restored but it makes an impressive sight. Just west of the town is the huge irrigation reservoir, Embalse de la Breña. The reservoir is home to an excellent waterski and wakeboard club complete with slalom courses, coaching and hire gear. The town of Almodóvar attracts mainly Spanish tourists who come to see the castle. There are hotels, restaurants and bars in the town, the main service centre is Córdoba, 22km away on the C431 main road. The Seville to Madrid train line runs through Almodóvar and there is a train station in the town. Further west on the banks of the Guadalquivir River is Posadas, a village of 7000 people with the attractive parish church of Nuestra Señora de las Flores. There is a train station in Posadas, which is 35km from Córdoba.

Palma del Rio
On the southern banks of the Guadalquivir River is the picturesque town of Palma del Rio, in the west of the Córdoba province near to the border with Seville. The town has a distinctive church tower and several sites of interest including the municipal museum, a theatre and a cultural centre. There is an important Franciscan monastery in the town which was established on the site of a former hospice dating from the 15th century. The monastery today is a hotel, where the rooms are the old monk cells. This quiet town is known as being the birthplace of Manuel Benitez El Cordobes, a famous Spanish bullfighter whose unusual antics in the ring gave rise to the nickname: "the Beatle of the Bullring". Palma del Rio's other claim to fame is that Fray Junipero Serra, a New World missionary, introduced oranges to the Americas with seeds from the town. The train station in Palma is located on the other side of the river. Palma is 55km from Córdoba. To the east of Palma is the! town of Fuente Palmera, situated right on the border with Seville at a crossroads of minor roads. There are guesthouses and several restaurants in this town of 9000 people, which is 17km from Palma del Rio. East again is Guadalcázar with a population of 1000. This village is located 10km from the NIV motorway that runs south from Córdoba.

Hornachuelos
North of Palma in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, the town of Hornachuelos has a population of 5000. From the town, excursions can be made into the national park where a plethora of different wildlife species make their home. The area is ideal for walking, mountain biking, horse riding and camping. There are shops, bars and restaurants in the town, which is situated 7km from the main C431 road and 51km from Córdoba, next to a long, narrow reservoir.

Montoro
In the east of Guadalquivir en Córdoba is the picturesque and unspoilt town of Montoro with a population of 10,000. Of Moorish origin, the town stands on the banks of the River Guadalquivir, its white houses rising upwards from the river. In 1480, the citizens of Montoro put together their money in order to build a bridge across the Guadalquivir, thus improving communications between Andalucía and Castille. In order to obtain enough money for the bridge, the women of Montoro actually sold their personal jewelry. This act so impressed Queen Isabella that from then until this day, the town has been given royal privileges. The bridge became known as the bridge of "Las Donadas" - the lay sisters, in honour of the women who gave up their personal possessions for it to be built. The stone bridge with its sturdy arches still spans the river today. The unique atmosphere of Montoro can be enjoyed in the enchanting town square of Plaza de España, where the lovely façade of! the parish church of San Bartolomé displays a mixture of gothic and mudéjar styles. Small, narrow streets wind their way round the town where surprises such as traditional village shops, old style "men's clubs" and the 13th century church of Santa María de la Mota are waiting to be discovered. Montoro is 40km from Córdoba on the NIV motorway. There is a railway station in the town connecting Montoro with Córdoba.

West of Montoro, a very winding mountain road leads to the village of Adamuz with a population of 4500. This is a pleasant village which is relatively untouched due to its out of the way location. Adamuz is 24km from Montoro. 12km east of Montoro on the NIV motorway is the village of Villa del Rio with a population of 7000. Villa del Rio is connected to the same rail line as Montoro.

Bujalance
Surrounded by a forest of olive trees, Bujalance is home to 8000 people and the old village has been well conserved. There is an ancient, ruined Moorish castle here, a town hall dating from the 17th century and a lovely medieval parish church with an attractive interior. The famous painter and writer, Antonio Palomino was born in Bujalance in the 17th century and a statue to him stands in the town square. Bujalance is 15km south of Montoro on the C309 road. East of Bujalance is Cañete de las Torres, a village of 3500 which has a Moorish castle on the outskirts of the village.

El Carpio
The hilltop village of El Carpio with its Moorish castle lies on the southern banks of the Guadalquivir, adjacent to the NIV motorway. El Carpio's whitewashed houses are huddled around its large tower. Near to El Carpio is a unique sight in the form of an electrical power station. The power station is topped by domes resembling mosques and huge elephant heads supporting a balcony. The architect who designed this remarkable structure, Casto Fernández Shaw, also designed the nearby dam, which has Moorish-style towers on either side. Also in the area is the estate of the Dukes of Alba. El Carpio has a population of 4500 and a handlful of bars, restaurants and shops. There is a train station in the village, which is 25km east of Córdoba.
Just across the river is the village of Villafranca de Córdoba with 3000 inhabitants. To the east of El Carpio is the village of Pedro Abad with 3700 inhabitants. There is a large modern mosque in the village which has been recently built to accommodate the growing number of Muslims moving to the area.