Cordoba Jewish Quarter Walk (Self Guided), Cordoba
The JuderĂa de CĂłrdoba is the area in CĂłrdoba that was once densely populated by the Jews, between the 10th and the 15th centuries. Back then, it was a time when three world religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – coexisted in CĂłrdoba, although not always peacefully. Attesting to that today are the major religious shrines found in the area, like the Synagogue, the Mosque-Cathedral (first built as a mosque and then converted to a Catholic temple), and the Church of San Pedro de Alcantara.
Technically speaking, however, what is currently referred to as the Jewish Quarter – the district between Deanes, ManrĂquez, Tomás Conde, JudĂos, Almanzor, and Romero streets – does not exactly correspond to the space inhabited by the Jews for most of that period. Nonetheless, as an integral part of the historic center of CĂłrdoba (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994), this neighborhood is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the city.
Indeed, there's so much to see here. In addition to the museums like the Casa de Sefarad (House of Sefarad – dedicated to the Jewish culture), the Casa Andalusi (Andalusian House, home to the Alchemy Museum), and the Museo Taurino (the Municipal Bullfighting Museum), there are plenty of historical, cultural and architectural attractions to explore. Among them are the Zoco Municipal Souk (Market), the Puerta de Almodovar (Almodovar Gate – part of the walls that once marked the Jewish quarter boundary), and the 14th-century Mudejar chapel of San Bartolomé.
Walking through the Jewish Quarter, along the Calle de los JudĂos (Jewish Street), you will find – in Plaza de Tiberias (aka Plaza de Maimonides) – a magnificent bronze statue dedicated to MaimĂłnides, the great Jewish philosopher and medical doctor.
For a closer look at these and other sights, and a more detailed acquaintance with the Jewish heritage of CĂłrdoba, take this self-guided walking tour.
Technically speaking, however, what is currently referred to as the Jewish Quarter – the district between Deanes, ManrĂquez, Tomás Conde, JudĂos, Almanzor, and Romero streets – does not exactly correspond to the space inhabited by the Jews for most of that period. Nonetheless, as an integral part of the historic center of CĂłrdoba (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994), this neighborhood is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the city.
Indeed, there's so much to see here. In addition to the museums like the Casa de Sefarad (House of Sefarad – dedicated to the Jewish culture), the Casa Andalusi (Andalusian House, home to the Alchemy Museum), and the Museo Taurino (the Municipal Bullfighting Museum), there are plenty of historical, cultural and architectural attractions to explore. Among them are the Zoco Municipal Souk (Market), the Puerta de Almodovar (Almodovar Gate – part of the walls that once marked the Jewish quarter boundary), and the 14th-century Mudejar chapel of San Bartolomé.
Walking through the Jewish Quarter, along the Calle de los JudĂos (Jewish Street), you will find – in Plaza de Tiberias (aka Plaza de Maimonides) – a magnificent bronze statue dedicated to MaimĂłnides, the great Jewish philosopher and medical doctor.
For a closer look at these and other sights, and a more detailed acquaintance with the Jewish heritage of CĂłrdoba, take this self-guided walking tour.
How it works: Download the app "911±¬ÁĎÍř: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911±¬ÁĎÍř App
Cordoba Jewish Quarter Walk Map
Guide Name: Cordoba Jewish Quarter Walk
Guide Location: Spain » Cordoba (See other walking tours in Cordoba)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Spain » Cordoba (See other walking tours in Cordoba)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Puerta de Almodovar (Almodovar Gate)
- Casa Andalusi (Andalusian House Museum)
- Casa de Sefarad (House of Sefarad)
- Sinagoga de Cordoba (Cordoba Synagogue)
- MaimĂłnides Square and Statue
- Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum)
- Capilla Mudejar de San Bartolome (Chapel of St. Bartolome)
- El Zoco Municipal Souk
- Plaza del Cardenal Salazar (Cardenal Salazar Square)
- Iglesia de San Pedro de Alcantara (Church of St. Peter of Alcantara)
1) Puerta de Almodovar (Almodovar Gate)
The AlmodĂłvar Gate isn’t just a hole in CĂłrdoba’s old town walls—it’s a survivor. Dating from the 14th century, it’s one of only three medieval gates still standing, named for the road that once led to the nearby town of AlmodĂłvar del RĂo. Built from sandstone and brick, the gate’s big open arch is flanked by two sturdy towers capped with battlements, like it’s still half-expecting trouble from the past. Step through and you’re straight into the Jewish Quarter, where the streets seem to have been designed by someone who liked puzzles.
Just outside, Cairuán Street runs alongside the walls like a quiet backstage corridor. It’s a stone walkway shaded by greenery, with a fountain feeding a neat row of rectangular ponds—an easy stroll for anyone wanting a break from the city’s buzz.
Keeping watch by the gate is a bronze statue of Seneca the Younger, born here in 4 B.C., who went on to become a Roman philosopher, playwright, and, at times, reluctant political insider. Follow Cairuán Street a little further and you’ll meet another hometown heavyweight: Averroes, the medieval philosopher who brought Aristotle back into fashion in the Islamic world. Two thinkers, two statues, and one gate that’s been standing long enough to hear it all.
Just outside, Cairuán Street runs alongside the walls like a quiet backstage corridor. It’s a stone walkway shaded by greenery, with a fountain feeding a neat row of rectangular ponds—an easy stroll for anyone wanting a break from the city’s buzz.
Keeping watch by the gate is a bronze statue of Seneca the Younger, born here in 4 B.C., who went on to become a Roman philosopher, playwright, and, at times, reluctant political insider. Follow Cairuán Street a little further and you’ll meet another hometown heavyweight: Averroes, the medieval philosopher who brought Aristotle back into fashion in the Islamic world. Two thinkers, two statues, and one gate that’s been standing long enough to hear it all.
2) Casa Andalusi (Andalusian House Museum)
The Andalusian House feels less like a museum and more like you’ve just wandered into the 12th century and no one’s told the owners. This small Moorish gem wraps itself around a leafy courtyard, a cool refuge just steps from the synagogue and a short stroll from the Almodóvar Gate.
Inside, rooms brim with the spoils of medieval home life—plush furnishings, hand-woven tapestries, shelves of old books, and enough delicate pottery to make you walk carefully. The décor leans heavily on Moorish elegance with a dash of Eastern flair, from its geometric tilework to its arched wall recesses.
The courtyard is its own quiet theatre: patterned cobblestones underfoot, arcaded porches framing the space, and fountains murmuring under a canopy of vines and potted greenery. For a shift in mood, head below ground to find a Roman floor and other remnants dug straight out of the city’s earlier layers.
And then there’s the Paper Museum—an unexpected detour into the world of early papermaking. Here you’ll find tools, history, and even a wooden scale model of one of the West’s earliest paper mills, proof that this city’s appetite for knowledge wasn’t just about collecting books—it knew how to make them, too.
Inside, rooms brim with the spoils of medieval home life—plush furnishings, hand-woven tapestries, shelves of old books, and enough delicate pottery to make you walk carefully. The décor leans heavily on Moorish elegance with a dash of Eastern flair, from its geometric tilework to its arched wall recesses.
The courtyard is its own quiet theatre: patterned cobblestones underfoot, arcaded porches framing the space, and fountains murmuring under a canopy of vines and potted greenery. For a shift in mood, head below ground to find a Roman floor and other remnants dug straight out of the city’s earlier layers.
And then there’s the Paper Museum—an unexpected detour into the world of early papermaking. Here you’ll find tools, history, and even a wooden scale model of one of the West’s earliest paper mills, proof that this city’s appetite for knowledge wasn’t just about collecting books—it knew how to make them, too.
3) Casa de Sefarad (House of Sefarad)
Deep in the maze of Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter sits the House of Sefarad—its name drawn from the Hebrew word for Spain. This 14th-century home once hid a secret: an underground tunnel linking it directly to the synagogue next door. Today, it stands as a “House of Memory,” a museum devoted to Jewish history and culture in Spain.
Step inside and the past unfolds in curated fragments—embroidered robes, gleaming jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, and the everyday objects that once filled Jewish homes. The rooms, arranged around a serene central courtyard, each follow a thread: domestic life, music, festivals, language, or faith.
One gallery shines a light on five formidable women of Al-Andalus, whose influence rippled through a kingdom that thrived under Muslim rule. Another confronts the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, displaying the documents and artifacts that bear witness to centuries of persecution. There’s also a space honoring Córdoba’s own Maimonides, the philosopher whose ideas still echo through law, medicine, and theology.
The courtyard itself feels like a pause button—arcaded porches, vine-draped columns, and balconies frame a pebble-mosaic floor patterned with a bold Star of David. When music fills the air here, the effect is less “museum visit” and more “time bending quietly in the sun.”
Step inside and the past unfolds in curated fragments—embroidered robes, gleaming jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, and the everyday objects that once filled Jewish homes. The rooms, arranged around a serene central courtyard, each follow a thread: domestic life, music, festivals, language, or faith.
One gallery shines a light on five formidable women of Al-Andalus, whose influence rippled through a kingdom that thrived under Muslim rule. Another confronts the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, displaying the documents and artifacts that bear witness to centuries of persecution. There’s also a space honoring Córdoba’s own Maimonides, the philosopher whose ideas still echo through law, medicine, and theology.
The courtyard itself feels like a pause button—arcaded porches, vine-draped columns, and balconies frame a pebble-mosaic floor patterned with a bold Star of David. When music fills the air here, the effect is less “museum visit” and more “time bending quietly in the sun.”
4) Sinagoga de Cordoba (Cordoba Synagogue)
On a quiet lane stands the city’s 14th-century synagogue—small in scale, but rich in survival stories. One of only a handful left in Spain, it may have once served as the private temple of a well-to-do family.
Moorish design runs through its bones. A simple gateway opens into a pocket-sized courtyard, where potted plants rest on a mosaic floor. From here, you step into an entrance hall, with stairs curling up to the women’s gallery.
The prayer hall is the star here. Its ceiling rises high above the small space, with walls covered in intricate patterns and Hebrew writing. On either side are small wall recesses—one now holds a menorah, though they once kept the Torah scrolls safe.
High on the walls, open archways lead your eye into the women’s section, once shielded by lattice for privacy. Above it all, a vaulted ceiling of wood panels and beams crowns the room, casting a warm, timeworn glow.
Visiting this synagogue isn’t about size—it’s about standing in a rare, intact echo of Jewish life in medieval Spain, still holding its place in the story of Córdoba.
Moorish design runs through its bones. A simple gateway opens into a pocket-sized courtyard, where potted plants rest on a mosaic floor. From here, you step into an entrance hall, with stairs curling up to the women’s gallery.
The prayer hall is the star here. Its ceiling rises high above the small space, with walls covered in intricate patterns and Hebrew writing. On either side are small wall recesses—one now holds a menorah, though they once kept the Torah scrolls safe.
High on the walls, open archways lead your eye into the women’s section, once shielded by lattice for privacy. Above it all, a vaulted ceiling of wood panels and beams crowns the room, casting a warm, timeworn glow.
Visiting this synagogue isn’t about size—it’s about standing in a rare, intact echo of Jewish life in medieval Spain, still holding its place in the story of Córdoba.
5) MaimĂłnides Square and Statue
In the middle of Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter, Maimónides Square tips its hat to one of the city’s brightest minds. Born here in the 12th century, Moses ben Maimon—better known as Maimónides—managed to fit “philosopher, physician, astronomer, and scholar” onto one résumé, with a side of groundbreaking theology.
A short stroll away, Tiberias Square cradles a bronze statue of the man himself, sculpted in 1964. Locals will tell you that rubbing his feet brings good luck—a superstition that’s polished them to a fine shine.
Around the square, you can dip into the Bullfighting Museum, where Córdoba’s matadors are remembered in art, costume, and legend, or linger at the House of Sefarad, which devotes a whole exhibition room to Maimónides’ life and legacy. In this part of town, even the streets feel like they’ve memorized a few philosophical quotes.
A short stroll away, Tiberias Square cradles a bronze statue of the man himself, sculpted in 1964. Locals will tell you that rubbing his feet brings good luck—a superstition that’s polished them to a fine shine.
Around the square, you can dip into the Bullfighting Museum, where Córdoba’s matadors are remembered in art, costume, and legend, or linger at the House of Sefarad, which devotes a whole exhibition room to Maimónides’ life and legacy. In this part of town, even the streets feel like they’ve memorized a few philosophical quotes.
6) Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum)
On Maimónides Square, inside a 16th-century mansion with the suitably grand name “House of the Bulls,” you’ll find Córdoba’s Bullfighting Museum. This is where Spain’s most storied matadors swap the roar of the crowd for the hush of exhibition halls.
Step inside and you’ll wander through rooms lined with sequined suits of light, oil paintings, pottery, and enough vintage bullfight posters to wallpaper the Old Town. Mounted bull’s heads stare down from the walls, each with its own tale of dust, danger, and drama.
One gallery salutes the “Five Caliphs” of the bullring—Córdoba’s home-grown legends. Among them is Manolete, the matador whose elegance in the ring made him a national icon, and whose death in 1947 at just thirty sealed his myth forever. Photographs and original costumes bring their stories close enough to touch.
Even the courtyard keeps the theme alive, with an arcaded porch, a bust of a matador, and a bronze bull frozen mid-stride—ready for the camera lenses of passing visitors.
Step inside and you’ll wander through rooms lined with sequined suits of light, oil paintings, pottery, and enough vintage bullfight posters to wallpaper the Old Town. Mounted bull’s heads stare down from the walls, each with its own tale of dust, danger, and drama.
One gallery salutes the “Five Caliphs” of the bullring—Córdoba’s home-grown legends. Among them is Manolete, the matador whose elegance in the ring made him a national icon, and whose death in 1947 at just thirty sealed his myth forever. Photographs and original costumes bring their stories close enough to touch.
Even the courtyard keeps the theme alive, with an arcaded porch, a bust of a matador, and a bronze bull frozen mid-stride—ready for the camera lenses of passing visitors.
7) Capilla Mudejar de San Bartolome (Chapel of St. Bartolome)
The Chapel of Saint Bartolomé may be small, but it wears the 14th and 15th centuries with quiet confidence. Built in the Mudejar style—a meeting point of Islamic pattern work and Christian forms—it feels like a lesson in how two traditions can share the same walls.
Inside, the details are impossible to ignore. Blue and green tiles run along the lower walls, faded frescoes peek out near the ceiling, and a tall arched recess draws your gaze. Overhead, the hanging lamps break up the space like pauses in a well-told story.
Before stepping in, you pass through a courtyard paved in decorative stone, its symmetry softened by a tall palm and a three-arched portico. It’s a brief pause before the hush of the chapel.
Recognised as a historic monument since 1931, it sits quietly in Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter, offering a compact but layered glimpse into the city’s blended past.
Inside, the details are impossible to ignore. Blue and green tiles run along the lower walls, faded frescoes peek out near the ceiling, and a tall arched recess draws your gaze. Overhead, the hanging lamps break up the space like pauses in a well-told story.
Before stepping in, you pass through a courtyard paved in decorative stone, its symmetry softened by a tall palm and a three-arched portico. It’s a brief pause before the hush of the chapel.
Recognised as a historic monument since 1931, it sits quietly in Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter, offering a compact but layered glimpse into the city’s blended past.
8) El Zoco Municipal Souk
A souk is defined as an Arab marketplace or open-air bazaar. Down a narrow street in Cordoba's Jewish Quarter, you'll find the El Zoco Municipal Souk, a lovely marketplace offering local artisan crafts for sale. It is located at a historic manor house boasting eye-catching Spanish-style architecture.
Step off the street into a beautiful courtyard situated at El Zoco's center. Small stones pave the courtyard's gorgeous outdoor patio. Surrounding it are two levels of arcaded walkways and a stairway up to the second floor. A delightful display of plants and flowers in blue pots adds color to the building's whitewashed walls and wrought-iron balcony railings.
This craft market features a collection of small workshops where artisans sell their wares. The shops are situated on both levels inside the building that surrounds the courtyard. Leather goods, artwork, hand-painted tiles, ceramics, and jewelry are just some of the unique handicrafts available to buy.
The El Zoco marketplace is a great place to stop, relax, and do some shopping during your tour around Cordoba. On occasion, you can even hear live music performances in the outdoor courtyard.
Step off the street into a beautiful courtyard situated at El Zoco's center. Small stones pave the courtyard's gorgeous outdoor patio. Surrounding it are two levels of arcaded walkways and a stairway up to the second floor. A delightful display of plants and flowers in blue pots adds color to the building's whitewashed walls and wrought-iron balcony railings.
This craft market features a collection of small workshops where artisans sell their wares. The shops are situated on both levels inside the building that surrounds the courtyard. Leather goods, artwork, hand-painted tiles, ceramics, and jewelry are just some of the unique handicrafts available to buy.
The El Zoco marketplace is a great place to stop, relax, and do some shopping during your tour around Cordoba. On occasion, you can even hear live music performances in the outdoor courtyard.
9) Plaza del Cardenal Salazar (Cardenal Salazar Square)
Cardenal Salazar Square takes its name from Pedro de Salazar, a man who wore the bishop’s mitre in Córdoba for nearly two decades until his death in 1706. His legacy left more than sermons—he also left bricks and mortar.
In the early 1700s, after a plague tore through the city, Salazar founded the hospital that still dominates one side of the square. Originally built to shelter both the sick and the homeless, it later became a hospice for the terminally ill. These days, the patients have been replaced by philosophy students—proof that the building, now part of the University of Córdoba, still treats a certain kind of restlessness.
Sharing the square is the Church of Saint Pedro de Alcántara, another of Salazar’s initiatives, where 18th-century walls still carry the dignity of their first blessing.
Beyond the history, the square hums with present-day life. Restaurants spill their flavors onto the surrounding alleyways, adding the aroma of grilled fish and garlic to the list of reasons to linger.
In the early 1700s, after a plague tore through the city, Salazar founded the hospital that still dominates one side of the square. Originally built to shelter both the sick and the homeless, it later became a hospice for the terminally ill. These days, the patients have been replaced by philosophy students—proof that the building, now part of the University of Córdoba, still treats a certain kind of restlessness.
Sharing the square is the Church of Saint Pedro de Alcántara, another of Salazar’s initiatives, where 18th-century walls still carry the dignity of their first blessing.
Beyond the history, the square hums with present-day life. Restaurants spill their flavors onto the surrounding alleyways, adding the aroma of grilled fish and garlic to the list of reasons to linger.
10) Iglesia de San Pedro de Alcantara (Church of St. Peter of Alcantara)
On Cardenal Salazar Square, stands the Church of Saint Peter of Alcantara — finished in 1696 and backed by Bishop Pedro de Salazar, a man who left his mark on the city not just in stone, but in service. Along with commissioning this church, he also founded a hospital after a plague swept through Córdoba. Over the centuries, the building has worn more than one hat, serving as a parish church and, for a time, a convent for nuns.
Step inside and the layout is simple but deliberate — a single nave intersected by a transept. The showpiece is the marble main altarpiece, the work of noted architect Francisco Hurtado, whose precision and flair give the space an understated grandeur. Above, the dome’s painted murals bring a burst of colour, adding depth to the otherwise serene interior.
Recent restoration has brought back its 17th-century look — whitewashed walls edged with bold red trim — offering a glimpse of how it would have greeted worshippers centuries ago. With its layered history, graceful design, and prime location, the church makes a rewarding pause for anyone weaving through Córdoba’s old streets.
Step inside and the layout is simple but deliberate — a single nave intersected by a transept. The showpiece is the marble main altarpiece, the work of noted architect Francisco Hurtado, whose precision and flair give the space an understated grandeur. Above, the dome’s painted murals bring a burst of colour, adding depth to the otherwise serene interior.
Recent restoration has brought back its 17th-century look — whitewashed walls edged with bold red trim — offering a glimpse of how it would have greeted worshippers centuries ago. With its layered history, graceful design, and prime location, the church makes a rewarding pause for anyone weaving through Córdoba’s old streets.
Walking Tours in Cordoba, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Cordoba
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cordoba is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ancient Roman Sites Walking Tour
Under all in Cordoba lies a once redoubtable Roman strongpoint. After Scipio's defeat of the Carthaginians in Llipa, the victorious Romans set up camp by the Guadalquivir River.
Under Augustus, the city gained the status of Colonia Patricia. A perimeter wall was built touching the Guadalquivir River. There were two forums, colonial and provincial. A large amphitheater has been uncovered.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Under Augustus, the city gained the status of Colonia Patricia. A perimeter wall was built touching the Guadalquivir River. There were two forums, colonial and provincial. A large amphitheater has been uncovered.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Cordoba Introduction Walking Tour
Córdoba treats history like a sculptor treats marble—layered, chiseled, and ever revealing something new. Situated in Andalusia, this city has seen empires rise, and its story spans over 2,200 years. Originally named Qart Juba by the Carthaginians, it was refounded in 206 BC by the Romans as Corduba. As the capital of the province Hispania Ulterior, it had to prove its reputation by having its... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all