Saint Michael’s Church: The Building.
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 Morisco type, rectangular, similar to those 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 stairs and water spillways.
The Layout of the Morisco Courtyard
The layout of the Morisco Courtyard allows for up to four garden plots, lower in height than the corridors. In each section, one can find orange trees, lemon trees, pomegranates, laurel… gardens with a marked Eastern influence, originating from Persia. It is believed that the plantations were created and maintained by local people, likely advised and led by Muslims from Granada, Seville…
Decoration and Architectural Elements
Attached to walls and former rooms runs a stucco baseboard decorated with two different types of geometric and Arabesque 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 east side, the Morisco Courtyard borders a building constructed in the 19th century, intended to provide the prison with suitable cells. On the north side stands a façade with a long vaulted gallery, opening outward with semicircular arches. The courtyard is bordered on its western side by a wall crowned with battlements, connecting the Towers of the Lions and of the Inquisition. In the middle of the wall, there is a sealed access opening, showing an arch of Arab descent, slightly pointed, as well as a large gate connecting to the gardens of the Alcázar.
Archaeological Remains
A small column is preserved in the courtyard, found during the excavation carried out in 1951, commemorating the ancient Roman buildings located beneath these grounds, such as the Customs House or the Palaces of the Procurator and Quaestor. On the column, one can see the base, part of the shaft, and the capital, which is heavily eroded.
Visit the Morisco Courtyard
If you wish to visit the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and its Morisco 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.
The Morisco Courtyard of the Alcázar has a rectangular layout in Muslim style, Morisco type, with corridors forming a central cross. In the center, there is a fountain with a jet, and at the ends, there are two shallow pools with steps.
In the Morisco Courtyard, there are gardens with orange trees, lemon trees, pomegranates, and laurel trees, all with a marked oriental influence, probably brought and cultivated by Granada or Sevilla Muslims.
The Morisco Courtyard features a stucco base with two types of geometric patterns and Arabic lacería, using red, black, and ochre colors. The main motifs are the coats of arms of León and Castilla.
The Morisco Courtyard is surrounded by a vaulted gallery on its north side, a wall with battlements on the west side, and a 19th-century building on the east. Additionally, an Arabic arch and a door connecting to the gardens of the Alcázar can be seen on the western wall.
In the Morisco Courtyard, a small column found during an excavation in 1951 is preserved, belonging to Roman buildings such as the Customs House and the Palaces of the Procurator and the Quaestor. The column is composed of a base, shaft, and capital, although the latter is very eroded.
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