Medina Azahara

حول

حقائق سريعة: A sprawling palace-city from the 10th century, it was the seat of power for the Caliphate of Córdoba for only about 70 years before being sacked and abandoned. The site lay hidden under farmland for nearly 1,000 years, and today less than 10 percent of the original complex has been excavated.

النقاط البارزة: Look for the subtle engineering trick in the reception hall: the columns and archways are positioned so that light reflects off marble pools onto the ceiling, creating the illusion of a rotating dome. The entire royal city was built in just three years using 4,300 stone columns, many carved from single pieces of pink and blue marble.

نصائح من الداخل

• Wear sturdy shoes: the site covers 112 hectares and involves a lot of walking on uneven stone paths and gravel.
• Arrive by the official shuttle bus from the Córdoba bus station; parking at the site is very limited.
• Spot the original 10th-century prayer niche in the upper hall, most tourists miss it as they head straight for the main hall downstairs.
• Bring water and sunscreen, there is almost no shade on the open hillside sections.

معلومات عملية

الاتجاهات

الموقع الرسمي

المزيد من المعالم في Spain

Sagrada Familia

Alhambra

Park Güell

Prado Museum