Córdoba - other things to see.

So today we went on a sort of wobbly wander around Córdoba. With the labyrinthian layout of the streets and laneways in the Jewish quarter that is pretty much going to be the case anyway. We were looking for the old Synagogue because a Jewish museum called the Casa Sefardi is next door to it. Instead we found the Museo de Taurino with displays about bulls that excelled themselves in the ring. Close enough we thought and took some pictures of that.

Then we found the Casa Andalusia, a old home restored as closely as possible to resemble the houses of old Moorish Al-Andaluce in the 12th century. It really did feel like a trip back in time, especially after seeing the paper manufacturing setup they had restored. The galleries and water features so instinsic to Moorish architecture were also noteworthy.

According to our maps we would be venturing past some of the open patios of the festival. All, and I mean all of them, had enormous numbers of people waiting their chance to have a look inside. So we bit the bullet and joined a long long queue. It inched forward over a period of 30 minutes or so, and then it was our turn. HUZZAH !!! We walked into the patio which was alive with greenery, a central fountain and lots of potted plants fastened to the walls. This particular patio like most of them was all of about 5 metres square. All over a fine effect but we saw it all and took all our pictures in just a couple of minutes. Not good usage of time on our part.
Not just patios are decorated with potted plants and flowering shrubs. Whole streets can be found similarly decorated by the street proud residents. One famous one is the Calleja de Flores just near the Mesquite. This narrow lane is marked with potted plants its entire length. It is truthfully no more or less beautiful than dozens of other such streets in the old quarter, but this one aligns directly with the bell tower of the Mesquite so photos of it are just that much more special.
We pushed on towards our next port of call, Palacio Viana, but diverted a little to see the Plaza de Corredera. It is reputed to have once been a place where bull fights were staged and even the odd stake burning by the Inquisition, but we found ne evidence of that. Instead the entire plaza has been turned into a giant "patio" by the building of apartments around its entire perimeter. Today it is a sea of umbrellas for all the restaurants and bars it can hold.
Speaking of patios, we really hit pay dirt with the Palacio Viana. It has no less than 12 within its grounds and they are extraordinary. They are quite individually designed with their layouts, sizes, shapes and choice of plantings.  All exhibit a central theme to their display. The Entry Patio has an enormous date palm casting a cooling shade over a central bubbling fountain. The Patio of Columns has a kind of Classical Greek feel to it and was used for outdoor entertainments requiring space. Others are intimate and secluded. Others still are for walking one's thoughts. Just brilliant.
By this time we were fairly clapped out and just wanted to get home and to put our feet up and have a cuppa. On the way home, and we didn't divert to see it or nothin', was the church of Santa Marina and the statue of the bull fighter Manolete. Not interested in bull fights, the church was really rather bland, even if that whole suburb was named after it, so we walked on.
The Torre de Malmuerte was also directly in our path. Built in the early 15th century to protect the city gate it later became a prison for unfortunate nobles. Legend has it it got its name (Bad Death) from the killing of a woman there wrongfully accused of adultery.
Enjoy the piccies.

A statue of "Ferdinand" in the patio of the Museo de Taurino.

Lucky to get a shot of him alone, everybody was queueing up for a selfie with him.

 Inside the patio of the Casa Andalusia.

A restored home circa 12th century with Moslem authenticity including a paper mill.

A water feature full of flower petals in an exterior corridor of the house.

Tranquil and fragrant.

A 12th century water powered hammer mill for pulping paper.

The rest of the drying and pressing equipment for the early making of paper.

Moorish art depicting the making of paper as early as the 12th century.

Some of the historical scrolls and manuscripts of the period.

Some exquisite embroidery work from that period Aldo.

  

 After a 30 minute outside we did eventually spend about 2 minutes in the patio itself.

So this is what all the excitement is about. Sure, it's a nice patio, beautiful in fact.

But 30 outside for 2 inside ???

 Yes, the patios were something special if you had that amount of time to wait.

 The Calleja de Flores, or Lane of Flowers.

This is an iconic shot of the narrow street as it lines up exactly with the bell tower of the Mesquite.

 Another patio visit, this one in the home of a famous Flamenco guitarist and singer, Fosforito.

The Plaza de Corredera.
Once a bull ring, it is been "patioed" by the surrounding buildings and now is wall to wall restaurants.

Near the former ancient Roman Temple is a new Roman Temple taking shape.
It is all part of the Government buildings in Córdoba.

The entrance patio to the Palacio Viana.
No need to queue like the others patios, this place has no less than 12 of varying sizes and themes.

Beautiful stands of bouganvillea and other flowering shrubs in the Patio Madama.
This is one of 12 adjoining courtyards or patios in the Palacio Viana.

The Patio of the Columns.

Patio of the Gardens.

Patio of the Gardeners.

Lovely effect of flowers cascading fron a pot placed high on a column.
Looks great, I might try this out for myself in my garden when I get back home.

The statue of the famous bull fighter Manolete outside the church of San Marina.
It was a pretty bland looking church to have a whole suburb named after it.

The Torre de Malmuerte.

It's a 15th century tower nestled right in amongst the modern buildings of Córdoba.