Almodóvar Gate

The walled space protecting the Islamic city obviously coincided with that from Roman times, and it had up to seven gates. Ibn Baskuwal made a list of them: the Gate of the Bridge (Bab al-Qántara) located in line with the Roman Bridge; the Iron Gate (Bab al-Hadid), also known as Zaragoza Gate (Bab al-Saraqusta),located in the east, a few metres from the southeastern angle; Toledo Gate (Bab al-Tulaitula), heir of the old Roman gate leading to the Vía Augusta; the Jews’ Gate (Bab al-Yahud), located on the northern side of the wall; Amir’s Gate (Bab Amir al-Qurasi), near the current Gallegos Gate; Seville Gate (Bab Ishbiliya) in the neighbourhood of Alcázar Viejo and, among these two, Almodóvar Gate, previously known as Walnut Gate (Bab al-Yawz).

Of all these gates, we have only preserved Almodóvar Gate, therefore it is very valuable heritage for our city. It was known by the Arabs as Walnut Gate, and it was located on the way to the town of Almodóvar, thus it received this name after the reconquest of the city in 1236.

Almodóvar Gate was built with sandstone blocks, although there are numerous additions from later restorations, which changed its original appearance. The central opening, through which the inside of the walled space could be accessed, is flanked by two prism-shaped turrets connected between them through a slightly pointed arch, which can be seen from the inside as a barrel vault. The arch is framed by a simple alfiz, with barely any decoration. At the top of the building there is a row of pyramidal battlement.

Since the 1965, next to the gate there is a bronze sculpture dedicated to philosopher from Córdoba Lucio Anneo Séneca, made by sculptor Amadeo Ruiz Olmos, and Manuel Benítez El Cordobés, popular bullfighter, paid for it. Séneca is represented standing, robed, and holding a roll on his hand, on a high pedestal.

Almodóvar Gate opens a short but attractive tour along the street parallel to the wall, called Cairuán or de la Muralla, and finishes at the statue of another philosopher, also from Córdoba, Averroes, although in this case, a Muslim character: two characters, two cultures, a millenium between them, which is reduced to a few metres in our city.

The current design of Cairuán Street is the result of the remodelling led by Mayor Antonio Guzmán Reina, who commissioned to transform a small stream into the beautiful pond we can see today. Back then the water came from an old cistern located in front of Almodóvar Gate.

A recent restoration has removed all the plants from the wall; only two cypresses were left. This way, they have recovered the old wall walk, higher than the rest of the street, along which one can walk or sit and contemplate how the water falls through each of the pools in the mentioned pond.

If you wish to know Almodóvar Gate do not hesitate to hire one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of the historical heritage from Córdoba. If you have chosen to do sightseeing in Córdoba, choose a high quality option, choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.