Morisco Courtyard
The medieval construction of the Alcázar was almost entirely destroyed after the building was adapted into a prison in the 19th century. It is an exceptional example of a distinctly Muslim layout, of the Moorish type, rectangular in shape, known in Christian Andalusia thanks to the Almoravids. Its corridors form a central cross, at whose intersection stands a domed fountain with a spout. At both ends, on the shorter sides of the rectangle, there are two shallow pools, with small staircases and water spillways.
The Layout of the Moorish Courtyard
The layout of the Moorish Courtyard allows for up to four garden plots, lower in height than the corridors. In each section, one can see orange trees, lemon trees, pomegranates, laurel… gardens with a marked Oriental influence coming from Persia. It is believed that the plantations were created and maintained by local people, likely advised and directed by Muslims from Granada or Seville.
Decoration and Architectural Elements
Attached to walls and old rooms runs a stucco baseboard decorated with two different types of geometric and Arab latticework designs, using only red, black, and ochre. The main motifs are the coats of arms of León and Castile.
Architecture and Boundaries of the Courtyard
On the eastern side of the Moorish Courtyard, it borders the structure built in the 19th century to provide suitable prison cells. On the northern side stands a façade with a long vaulted gallery, visible from the outside with semicircular arches.
The western side of the courtyard borders a wall topped with battlements, which connects the Towers of the Lions and of the Inquisition. In the middle of the wall, there is a sealed entrance opening, featuring a slightly pointed arch of Arab origin, as well as a large gate that connects to the gardens of the Alcázar.
Archaeological Remains
A small column is preserved in the courtyard, found during the excavation carried out in 1951. It commemorates the ancient Roman buildings located beneath these grounds, such as the Customs House or the Palaces of the Procurator and the Quaestor. The column shows the base, part of the shaft, and the capital, which is heavily eroded.
Visit the Moorish Courtyard
If you wish to visit the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and its Moorish Courtyard, do not hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you have chosen to enjoy tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option: choose ArtenCórdoba.
Text: J.A.S.C.
Image Gallery
The Moorish Patio is inspired by Moorish architecture of Muslim origin, with a rectangular layout and corridors forming a central cross, at the intersection of which is a fountain with a spout, following models introduced by the Almoravids in Christian Andalusia.
The gardens of the Moorish Patio feature orange trees, lemon trees, pomegranates, and laurels, arranged in four landscaped squares lower than the corridors, following an Eastern gardening tradition brought from Persia.
The walls of the Moorish Patio are decorated with a stucco base presenting two types of geometric designs and Arab lacework, using red, black, and ochre colors, along with coats of arms of León and Castilla as the main motifs.
In the Moorish Patio, a small column discovered in 1951 is preserved, commemorating earlier Roman buildings such as the Customs House or the Palaces of the Procurator and Questor. The column retains its base, part of the shaft, and an eroded capital.
The Moorish Patio is bounded to the east by 19th-century buildings used as a prison, to the north by a vaulted gallery with semicircular arches, and to the west by a crenelated wall connecting the Lions and Inquisition towers.
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