Medina Azahara

Located some eight kilometres from Córdoba, Medina Azahara was founded in 936 by Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III as a palatine city and a symbol of the power of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Designed as a political and residential centre, it housed palaces, gardens, mosques and administrative buildings spread across terraced levels.

Its architecture reflects the splendour of Caliphate art, with luxurious marble and elaborate carved decorations. Destroyed in the early 11th century, the site today preserves significant remains that allow visitors to appreciate the scale of the complex.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, Medina Azahara is one of the most important archaeological sites in al-Andalus and an essential visit for understanding the grandeur of Córdoba’s past.

Address: Ctra. Palma del Río, km 5.5, 14005 Córdoba
Price: free for European Union residents. Others €1.50
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Sundays and public holidays from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm (1 January to 20 March and 21 September to 31 December). Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm, Sundays and public holidays from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm (21 March to 20 June). Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm and from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm, Sundays and public holidays from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm (21 June to 20 September).
Website: https://www.medinaazahara.org/.