From 2 to 14 May, the city of Córdoba in Spain becomes the capital of color, light and joy! Declared a UNESCO cultural heritage festival, Córdoba’s annual spring Patios de Córdoba opens the stunning private courtyards that so typify the city.
To see the best courtyards, visit Alcázar Viejo district, between the Alcázar and the parish of San Basilio, although there are also many in the districts of Santa Marina, around the church of San Lorenzo and near la Magdalena. Just around the Mosque-Cathedral, there are also very beautiful old examples of courtyards in the old Jewish quarter. The most beautiful courtyards of all are to be found in the Palacio de Viana (Viana Palace), with twelve different courtyards.
Private patios are open every day, from 11am to 2pm and then in the evening from 6pm to 10pm. Some of those around offical buildings are open only in the lunchtime hours.
Patrimonio Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la Unesco, llenos de color, de aromas, de luz, de vida, todo esto se respira en el típico patio cordobés.
In Spain’s capital, two impressive garden works caught my eye and considerably enhanced my ‘art experience’. In a city justifiably renowned for three great art museums, these outdoor living works offer their own distinctive appeal and artistry. Continue reading “Two Madrid garden masterpieces” →
To avoid death you may eat a cactus but not a euphorbia. To avoid an irritating meal don’t eat the prickly bits of either. Mostly it’s the fruit of cacti that people eat, after carefully removing any spines. The dragon fruit, from the climbing cactus. Continue reading “Tuna and other succulent fruit” →
Forget the dogs now it’s all about dragons. Most of them have been slain but like Jurassic Park they rise again, like this Gran Canaria Dragon (Tree). Thankfully Continue reading “No dogs but three dragons in the land of the spaghetti western” →
The Guanche bred rather large and ferocious dogs on a cluster of islands one hundred kilometres west of Morocco, just under four hours flight from Gatwick. Continue reading “Island of Dogs” →