Córdoba province travel information and video

Cordoba Province

The Cordoba Province in the autonomous community of Andalusia, home to the wonderful, historic city of Cordoba, is also a region of extreme natural beauty and a great destination for
rural and cultural tourists.

The landscape of the Cordoba province is diverse, with rolling plains, the Guadalquivir River, and the rugged Sierra Morena. The province is dotted with whitewashed villages with ancient monuments and buildings, and Moorish castles.

The region us famous for both its dry white wines, similar to sherry but fruitier and produced mainly from the Pedro Xímenez grape, and olive oil;
vineyards and olive groves being a characteristic feature of the landscape, especially south of Cordoba.

Around the province
The province of Cordoba is divided into two parts; to the north is the Sierra Morena, which is populated with rolling hills, which create a natural barrier in between northern Andalusia and Extremadura. It’s not a typical touristic region and can be quite wild and remote in part, and with its architecture more typical of nearby Extremadura or Castile La Mancha, than Andalusia.

Some of the towns and villages of this area include Espiel, which clings to the mountainside, Belmez, which sits pinned to a rocky crag, which is crowned by a castle. Fuente Obejuna is the last town before you cross into Extremadura.

The Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park is the largest park in the province of Cordoba, situated in the Sierra Morena it is home to a large colony of vultures and other species. The area has been designated a Biosphere Reserve.

The Sierras de Cardeña and Montoro Natural Park is located in the eastern region of the Sierra Morena and has an amazing Mediterranean Ecosystem with its cork and oak forests.

The southern sierras form the dramatic and rugged peaks of the Sierra Subbeticas Natural Park, where you can also visit the charming town of Cabra, which has an interesting history and lots of attractions, including an archaeological museum. Further south you come to the town of Lucena, which is again a historical town with some fine examples of Baroque architecture; it’s also a great place to shop.

The mountain village of Zuheros boasts a spectacular cliff side position and the intriguing Cueva de los Murciélagos (Cave of the Bats). The pretty village of Luque is also located nearby. Luque perches on a rock, and crowned by a castle.

The delightful town of Priego de Cordoba is renowned for its outstanding Baroque churches, and just south of here is Iznajar, which is located on a promontory, and is home to an immense
reservoir.

Outdoor pursuits
The diversity of the province of Cordoba means that you will not be short of activities. If you enjoy rural tourism and outdoor pursuits then you can indulge in activities including hiking, rambling, mountain climbing, canoeing or sailing on the reservoir or river.

If you enjoy bird watching, or horse riding, then Cordoba can fulfil, and you can also do take part in a spot of wine tasting, or simply visit the wonderful ancient villages that dot the landscape.

Cuisine
The province of Cordoba produces some of Andalusia’s finest olive oil, which is one of the root ingredients for most, in fact all of Andalusia’s cuisine. Specialities include the famous cold soups of Gazpacho and Salmorejo; some of the best Jamon (ham) is found in the province of Cordoba, and Salchichon (a type of sausage) and
Morcilla (black pudding) are both typical of the area.

The local produced wines from Cordoba are similar to those of the Sherry from Jerez. The region produces a ‘fino’, which is similar to dry sherry; Pedro Ximenez is the main production for the regional wines.  

Climate
The  climate of Cordoba is typical of the Andalusian inland climate. During the summer months the city gets hot, into late 30, early 40 degree temperatures. The spring and autumn is
generally mild, and the winters do get slightly colder, than the protected Costa del Sol and Malaga region.