In Roman times the site was occupied by a building that functioned as a building. It was used as a river customs office and its mission was to protect the Roman bridge. Later, in Muslim times, the building was transformed into a in Alcázar Real and served It served as a palace for the caliphs until the construction of Medina Azahara, at which time it lost its status. the interest of the Court. Years later with the Almohad invasion it was transformed. It was in a defensive citadel until the year 1236 when King Ferdinand III conquered the city. the city of Córdoba and it was proposed to rebuild the site, a work that will be completed by later during the reigns of Alfonso X and Alfonso XI. In any case, whether they were Roman, Muslim or Christian rulers, they all felt predilection for this strategic place on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.In the century XV the Catholic Monarchs spent more than eight years in this fortress planning the conquest of the nearby Nasrid Kingdom. and in the year 1486 in the Torre del Homenajethey received Christopher Columbuswhen he asked them for help. funds to undertake your maritime expedition. After the conquest of Granada, the building was converted into a at the hands of the Holy Office that modified the It expanded its structure by creating numerous cells for prisoners, a function that continued It was active until 1941 since during the Spanish Civil War it also hosted to captive republican soldiers. In 1931 it was considered a Historical-Artistic Monument and since 2011 the Town Hall manages a famous show called "The magical nights of the Alcázar" where gardens, lights, water and music mix to give life to this historic place .
The crenellated fortress follows the Christian tradition of rectangular floor plan with four towers attached to the corners since at first it was intended Differentiate the building as much as possible from previous Islamic constructions with the aim of reaffirming the power of the new Catholic king over the former Muslim territories.
The Tower of Homage or Throne Room was the most important of all because it was where the audiences, proclamations and oaths took place.< /strong> In addition, it had another taller tower attached to it with balconies where those condemned by the Inquisition were hanged in front of the people. This Tower was also known as the Clock Tower after one who decorated it. its front until the beginning of the 20th century.
The Tower of the Inquisition has a circular plan with three floors covered by half-orange vaults, plinths and wall decoration based on motifs of castles, lions and Mudejar lacerias. Its name is due to its function as archive of the Holy Office when they administered the building.
The Tower of the Lions is divided into two floors covered with ribbed vaults, in the upper area is the Chapel of San Eustaquio . It was called like this by the animal-shaped gargoyles that crown the roof. Currently it is the main access for visitors. Finally, the Pigeon Tower is a reconstruction from the 20th century.
Inside, all the rooms are closed with Gothic domes and are distributed around two courtyards of Muslim tradition: the Patio Mudéjar is the one that has the most decoration with beautiful marble floors and swimming pools and the Patio de las Mujeres was called Mudéjar. like this for being the place of women within the rooms of the old prison. In some areas of the Alcazar, such as the Entrance Gallery or the Hall of Mosaics, we find valuable Roman remains such as a pagan sarcophagus made in the 3rd century with Carrara marble in which an allegory of the passage to the afterlife is represented. with a door ajar. The Hall is located in an old baroque chapel that exhibits numerous mosaics from a Roman Villa discovered in the Plaza de la Corredera in 1959 that show us well-known figures from classical antiquity such as Polifemo and Galatea , Medusa and Eros and Psyche.
Under this room are the so-called Eleonor Baths that King Alfonso XI built. for his beloved, they are of Muslim inspiration and have four vaulted rooms with starry skylights: changing room, cold room, warm room and hot room. This space is connected underground to the Torre del Homenaje where the boiler that heated the water is located. Outside, the beautiful gardens are arranged on three levels, which continue to be watered with the water transported by the Roman aqueduct from Sierra Morena, and the wonderful cypress promenade decorated with sculptures by Pablo Yusti who shows us all the Kings who passed through this historic Alcázar.
Tuesday to Friday: 08:30 hrs - 20:15 hrs
Saturdays: 08:30 hrs - 16:30 hrs
Sundays and holidays: 08:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- The four towers
- Mosaic Hall
- The Moorish Patio
- Royal Baths of Doña Leonor
Other nearby places of interest are the Puerta del Puente, the Roman Bridge and the Mosque-Cathedral.