The Building: Introduction.

The building of the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs has an almost square floor, 66 metres long north-south and 62 east-west, with an area of almost 4,000 square metres.

The wall is made of irregular blocks of stone, arranged in headers and stretchers, with wall walks, battlement and loopholes at the top, connecting the towers among them, and solving the slopes with stairs.

There was a total of four towers, each of them located in each corner of the square shaping the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs. The Tower of the Dove, located in the southeast, was destroyed in 1850. It was an entrance to the Palace, and it was even used to channel the water so that it could get to the rooms, gardens and bathrooms. Of the other three towers, there are only two preserved, the Tribute Tower and the Tower of the Lions. The latter, located in the northwest, stands out because of its worn away gargoyles. The Tribute Tower owes its name to the fact that it was the place where flags were waved in royal proclamations. However, it was also called The Tower of the Clock, as there was one on it, which was removed at the beginning of the 20th century. The other tower which is preserved is the Tower of the Inquisition, located in the southwest of the Alcázar. It has a cylindrical 3-floored shape, with two clearly separated sections: the first one is older with cross-shaped loopholes, and the second one, with the shape of a prysm and made of brick.

The image one can get from the outside of the Alcázar is that of a completely fortified building, thus complying with the warlike character needed. The best preserved wall was the one on the northern side, facing the city and connecting the Tower of the Lions and the Tribute Tower. The current access to the Alcázar is at the base of the Tower of the Lions. This access has a pointed arch, whose radius is shorter than its width, stuccoed and ochre voussoirs, and limestone imposts.

When entering the inside, we can see a small rectangular room, covered by a beautiful pointed vault. Its capitals, not very well preserved, are displayed across the angles.

After crossing the entrance hall, on the left, we can see the main entrance to the indoor facility, which connects straightaway with the Hall of the Mosaics. Parallel to this hall, and attached to the northern wall, there is a corridor where we can find the stairs leading to the wall walk connecting the Tower of the Lions and the Tribute Tower. On the right, however, the baths on the ground floor can be accessed, as well as the Moorish Courtyard.

If you are not sure what to do in Córdoba, we recommend you visit the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs hiring one of our guided tours. Choose to do high quality sightseeing with qualified staff. Do not hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.