C/ Maese Luis, 22.

We walk a few meters down Calle Maese Luis, almost at the end, to arrive at number 22, where María Luisa García welcomes us—a ceramic artist who set up her workshop in this house at the end of the last century, together with her husband Juan Antonio.

A House with History

According to María Luisa, this is a house with a lot of history; in fact, the first deed of sale, dated 1803, is still preserved. Apparently, she tells us, it belonged to the entail of the Duchess of Alcañices and, during the time of the Republic, it was the headquarters of the newspaper El Sur, whose editor was a close friend of the poet Federico García Lorca, with whom he enjoyed long conversations in this very courtyard.

Architecture and Unique Elements

Before entering, we might highlight the reddish color of its façade, with limestone lintels and balconies full of gitanillas. We access the courtyard through an artistic wrought iron gate, from the 19th century our hostess tells us, which leads us to an entrance portico. Above this portico is an upper gallery supported by fluted columns with their respective capitals, all made of dark green cast iron, just like some of its doors and windows.

Above the gallery, we find a tower with semicircular windows and blue latticework. In the past, it was used for grain storage and food drying. The floor is made of hydraulic tiles, also from the 19th century, brown in color. When that tower is full of purple gitanillas, contrasting with the indigo blue of the latticework, it becomes one of the most beautiful areas of the house, adds María Luisa.

Courtyard Vegetation

We can distinguish a large number of plants scattered throughout the Patio of Calle Maese Luis, even the large front glass wall is full of brown pots with brightly colored flowers, where the large central ficus stands out, along with jasmine, aralia, begonias, ferns, geraniums, hydrangeas, and papyrus, among others. María Luisa tells us that every year she plans on paper the future arrangement of the flowers, playing with tones and species. An arduous task, but undoubtedly rewarding.

We are also struck by the unusual type of elongated pots, uncommon in other patios, containing quite leafy plants, which we can see at the bottom of the wall surrounding a tile that depicts Saint Francis with the Child Jesus.

Awards

Numerous awards have been received over the years, including the first prize in 2011, third prizes in 2012 and 2013, and an honorable mention in 2005.

Recommended Visit

If you’re not sure what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Patios of Córdoba by booking one of our guided tours. We dedicate a special chapter to the Patio of Calle Maese Luis, 22. Choose to enjoy quality tourism with qualified personnel—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.