10, Céspedes Street.

The belfry tower of the Mosque-Cathedral is a lucky witness of the unique beauty of the Courtyard on 10, Céspedes Street, or the other way round, depending on different opinions.

We are received by Rosario Torrealba, the oldest of five siblings. She tells us that her father, Ildefonso, was an orphan after the Spanish Civil War, and that was why she came to this house to live with his uncle, who was a soldier. His father would always stay next to her, and his five children were born here.

Guadalupe, Rosario’s mother, always liked green courtyards, with many plants but only a few flowers, although she made an exception with geraniums. There was a time when the pots were painted in red and yellow, like in the Spanish flag, but today they are green, emphasizing the colour of the vegetation. Nowadays, more than 200 pots show us more than 80 different flowers, among which we can highlight different kinds of jasmines, geraniums, night-blooming jasmines, ferns, spider plants, bougainvillae, hydrangeas, begonias…

What makes this courtyard especially unique is its basement, which, according to Rosario, has been full of rubble for many years, as if it was a storage. Her brother Ildefonso has emptied it and he found an Arab washing sink, a well, a cistern, a kitchen and a fountain. A real wonder.

Rosario tells us that since her father became ill in 1971 the courtyard has not entered the contest again until 2010, and it was awarded in 2011 with a special mention.

We cannot say goodbye to this lovely and hospitable family without mentioning the collection of wines Ildefonso, Rosario’s younger brother, has put at the entrance of the house, where he displays and sells some of the best wines in the country.

If you are wondering what to visit in Córdoba, a good option would be the Courtyards in Córdoba, choosing one of our guided tours. This way you will learn everything about the Courtyard on 10, Céspedes Street. Choosing to do high quality sightseeing is choosing ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.