Starting with May 1st, and for the next two weeks to follow, in the city of Córdoba, people open the doors of their private patios, revealing the floral secrets that they keep inside.
The Festival of the Courtyards of Córdoba takes place every year. It’s an almost 100 years long tradition for the inhabitants to reveal the most beautiful secrets of their homes: flower carpets, handmade Arabic mosaics, fountains, and the most beautiful patios. The courtyards are a floral paradise where every corner is occupied by pots, most of them blue or green) from which flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes sprout in explosions of pink, red, orange and purple and lots of pastel colours.
Since the first celebration of the Festival of the Courtyards in 1918, the Cordobans have been in charge of their courtyards throughout the year. These patios are privately owned, and as usual, they are on the backs of the houses, but during the week of the courtyards, they open to the public so that everyone who wants to pass and enjoy the beauty of the flowers, and the color in its maximum splendor. The number of courtyards is something that can vary every year and therefore, the itineraries too. You can find here an interactive map with suggested routes, and precise and detailed information, very handy especially when you visit the Fiesta de los Patios.
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The image of the Cordovan courtyard is an inheritance of the Islamic house that was characterized by the construction of facades oriented towards its interior. The exterior aspect lacked relevance because it was constituted with a simple blind wall. After the Christian conquest of the city, this architectural structure remained and still remains in the current homes. In addition to presenting a facade, a patio is distinguished by bedecked with a multitude of flowers planted in flower beds and pots, which are hung on the walls or placed on the typical pavement of Cordovan Chinese. Next to them, the wells or fountains embellish the site, forming a beautiful image in which water, light and vegetation merge, a clear reflection of the Arab past of the city. To complete the ornamentation, the owners often include antique furniture, iron kitchen utensils, shafts, capitals or other archaeological remains.
Photo credits and info source Patios de Cordoba