In the old quarters of Cordoba, the famous courtyards known as the patios are hidden gardens of flowers tucked behind plain street doors. Each spring they burst into colour, and many open their gates to visitors. The tradition of the patio reaches back to ancient and Moorish times, when houses were built around a cool inner courtyard to escape the fierce heat. It is a way of living shaped by the climate. A typical patio is a small open court at the heart of a house, often shared by several families, paved with stone and ringed by rooms. A well or fountain stands at the centre. The walls and railings are hung with pots of geraniums, carnations and other flowers, watered with care so that the whole court blazes with colour. The display is a point of great pride. Each year in early summer the city holds a festival of the patios, when owners throw open their courts and compete for prizes. Crowds wander from house to house to admire them. The festival has been honoured as part of the heritage of the world, recognised for keeping alive a way of life and a love of flowers. It is among the great events of the city. The cool, green courts offer a welcome refuge from the heat of the streets, scented with flowers and filled with the sound of water. Stepping into one is a delight. The finest patios are found in the old quarters near the great mosque-cathedral, in a maze of whitewashed lanes. The whole district rewards a wander. Outside the festival, some patios can be visited at other times, and a few are kept open as living museums of the tradition. Visitors can admire them year-round. The care of a patio is a labour of love, passed down through families, with skills of planting and watering handed from one generation to the next. The tradition is fiercely cherished. The blend of flowers, water, shade and old whitewashed walls makes the patios one of the loveliest sights of the city. They capture the spirit of the south. They are found in the old quarters of Cordoba, in the south of Spain, near the great mosque-cathedral. The lanes around it hold the finest examples. For visitors, especially in late spring, the patios offer a glimpse into a beautiful local tradition.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Córdoba, Spain, Córdoba, Spain, 14003