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Medina Azahara Review

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Medina Azahara

Address: Off C431; follow signs en route to Almodóvar del Río, Córdoba
Phone: 957/355506

Category: Castles/Palaces
Location: Córdoba

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Fodor's Review:

Medina Azahara (sometimes written in Arabic as Madinat Al-Zahra) was built in the foothills of the Sierra Morena—about 8 km (5 mi) west of Córdoba on C431—by Abd ar-Rahman III for his favorite concubine, az-Zahra (the Flower). Construction on this once-splendid summer pleasure palace began in 936; historians say it took 10,000 men, 2,600 mules, and 400 camels 25 years to erect this fantasy of 4,300 columns in dazzling pink, green, and white marble and jasper brought from Carthage. Here, on three terraces, stood a palace, a mosque, luxurious baths, fragrant gardens, fishponds, an aviary, and a zoo. In 1013 the place was sacked and destroyed by Berber mercenaries. In 1944 the Royal Apartments were rediscovered, and the Throne Room was carefully reconstructed. The outline of the mosque has also been excavated. The only covered part of the site is the Salon de Abd Al Rahman III; the rest is a sprawl of foundations, defense walls, and arches that hint at the splendor of the original city-palace. There is no public transport out to here, but the authorities run a daily tourist bus, so check with the tourist offices for hours and place of departure.

Cost: EUR 3, free for EU citizens
Open: Tues.-Sat. 10-8:30, Sun. 10-2

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