Flowers and Patios in Córdoba

It rained late Sunday night into early Monday morning.  However, the sky cleared by mid morning and Monday March 2 turned into a mainly sunny day with a high of 20C.

We had an issue with our apartment and our host's father came over and we moved to another son's apartment on the top floor of the same building.  It is smaller but has lots of light, a small patio and great views.  We still have the key to the other apartment, so were able to do our laundry there.

At the top now

Patio
Rooftop view


Small kitchen area with connecting hall
Large bathroom

One of our views is the bridge that leads to the Centre for Contemporary Art that we visited on Sunday

We headed out mid afternoon to get some provisions in the St. Basilio area where we had bought fish and vegetables earlier in our visit.  Unfortunately, the fish store closes early afternoon on Mondays, so we just bought some vegetables and will have pasta and tomato sauce tonight.

Very quiet on a Monday afternoon

There are lots of beautiful churches in this neighbourhood.
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de La Paz
Another side of the Church


Alano checking out a place on St. Basilio St where friends from Victoria stayed last fall.

We headed back to the apartment for a late lunch.  We had decided to do the Patios in San Basilio tour (One does a self directed tour of a number of patios that are open outside of the annual competition dates).  The ticket office opens at 5:00 p.m. for tours from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Alcazar is closed on Monday-I was able to take some nice pics without people
The Alcazar
After a very late lunch, we headed back to take what is called "Ruta dePatios en San Basilio".  (Route of the Patios of San Basilio).  One gets a ticket (5 euros)  and a map which includes five stops at patios included in the tour and two others that are free to anyone.

The first patio was adjacent to the small ticket office.  Lots of plants and greenery (There is clearly a Córdoba style).
Flowers and pots everywhere

Small room with implements


Alano with a long watering can
Great arches


Great colours

Tiles and flowers
The second stop was the statue with flowers and plants--- there were some new plants today.  The statue is called The Homage to the Fiesta of the Córdoba patios.


The second patio in the tour had been a four time winner in the annual patio event.

Plaque indicating patio since 1979


Wall of pots


Getting potted

Owner or gardener always working


The next patio was an open one and one of the best.  A woman in the front who was making jewellery gave us a brief explanation of some of the features of her patio.


Entrance to the patio--- note pottery feature in back right corner--it was an old well that now has a lemon tree growing in it

First century column!!
Beautiful lemon tree


Alano near another ancient feature
Peering into the kitchen


Incredible ceiling in entrance

The next patio on the tour housed a few artisan studios.  It was also a multiple winner at the annual patio competition.

One of the larger patios-- a few studios off to the side

Reference to  the Association of the Patios originators-founded in May 1977

Leather works in studio
Lovely courtyard


More flowers and plants

Artisans and Patios--- good combination

Peering down a side street with a portion of the old Roman wall
Another patio--- most were in very old buildings in this lovely part of town.

 


The next patio, tended to by an older woman, was another beauty.   Lovely arches and reproductions of pictures by Julio Romero de Torres (1874-1930), a beloved local painter.
Beautiful entrance to patio

Alano and the flower pots

Award winning patio for modern architecture


Looking down the street where the last two patio visits were located.  Very pretty street.  Lots of flower pots outside people's homes

The last patio we visited
Another lemon tree


The quote from Jorge Luis Borges is all over town

The main five of the patios we visited all had plaques with De Patios: Rita de Patios en San Basilio



It is easy to see why the Fiesta of the Patios held annually during 12 days in May was designated in 2012 as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
 We continued to peer into other courtyards that weren't on the tour.  Lots of beautiful tiles.

Endless courtyards

We wandered around some more after the Patio tour and then headed back to the apartment.  Alano made us a pasta meal with home made tomato sauce, salad, and wine.

On Tuesday, we will visit the Mezquita-Catedral.



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