The history of Medina Azahara

The magnificent, enigmatic city palace which was built for Abd-al Rahman III
Guided tours to the "Shining City"

Accompanied by an Official Guide of Cordoba
The opening times

MEDINA AZAHARA CORDOBA

THE IMPORTANT DEPOSIT OF MEDINA AZAHARA IS FOUND AT ABOUT 7 KM FROM THE CITY OF CORDOBA.

Visiting it is considered essential for all those interested in the hispanic-muslim legacy in the city of Cordoba and by extension in Al-Andalus.

It's the perfect complement for the visit of the Cordoba Mosque. The importance of the city in history, is appreciated from the visit of the two large monuments that have persisted until our days, the Mosque and the city of Medina Azahara.

The history of Medina Azahara starts with Abderraman, III, and his decision to build a city in the outskirts of Cordoba, between the years 936 and 976. City that in conjunction will unite the administrative and residential tasks of the caliphate.

Medina Azahara - The World Heritage of Humanity

On 1 July 2018, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee included the Medina Azahara Caliphate on the list of cultural sites protected in a debate in which there were no objections.

Medina Azahara is of extraordinary importance to Andalusia and the rest of the country for several reasons. In first place because it is the largest archaeological site in Spain. 112 hectares of walled surface make Medina Azahara the largest archeological ensemble of the country. In second place, due to its own stage of active life. It’s a city with a relatively short lifetime, it started in the year 936 and the destruction began between the year 1010 and 1013.

Without subsequent settlements, we are able to find here early Caliphal urbanism that’s not distorted by later developments that ended up breaking the model of origin. And in third place because the site presents the development of new decorative techniques, of new work system, that make Medina Azahara a place with extraordinary recuperation possibility, which is not found in other archeological sites in Spain.

The history of Medina Azahara

Medina Azahara (Madinat al-Zahra) was the most beautiful example of the al-andalus splendor. A city whose beauty couldn’t be compared to any other in the world. According to the legend it emerged from a love story, and another story, of wars, destroyed it when it only had 70 years.

The ruins of that city, very close to the capital Cordoba, are still quite unknown for most Andalusians. In the last weeks we’ve heard about them again due to the controversy about their abandoned state.

From medinaazahara.org we invite you to learn about one of the most beautiful pages of our history. Isner Allí, an Andalusian poet, told it this way: Azahara, a slave from the Caliph’s harem, captivated in such a way the owner’s heart, Abderraman III, that he commanded the construction of a beautiful city for her.

The legend had a beautiful and tragic ending. The existence of Medina Azahara was as intense as brief. Just like the fragrance and life of the flower it was named after.

guided VISIT FROM CORDOBA

THE EPHEMERAL CITY

The legend of Medina Azahara

The history, however, denies the legend. In Abderraman III memoirs we can read: … this year like the previous engraving to the treasure chests for the construction of the palace city Medina Azahara.

We’ve finalized the throne room now the whole ensemble is so immense and complex like Samarra, the palace of the Abasidas.
And now it’s my turn to pay the stonemason masters, the fabric weaving workshops, the goldsmiths and the bronze smiths that are forging the new fountains of Medina Azahara.

The Caliph tends to spend the days contemplating from his majestic throne the extensive territory that lays before him. All of those who visit are amazed of his power and his empire.

Foundation of the Caliphate city

70 years passed by from the foundation of the Caliphate city until its destruction by the Berbers of Sulaiman al-Mustain. Then many centuries of plundering and looting began. So many, that the city’s memory was erased from the annals of history. Stones that were part of the caliphal court wall are today parts of monuments from Granada, Sevilla, or even Cordoba, like the San Jeronimo monastery in Valparaiso, very close to Medina Azahara. Time had to pass until after half of the 19th century so the men could identify the ruins in the hillside of Monte de la Novia, at about five kilometers from Cordoba, with the current Medina Azahara.

View photo gallery

Download map of Medina Azahara

Testimonials

"I took this guided tour of Medina Azahara and thoroughly enjoyed it! We were a small group but I noticed we somehow picked up a couple of people on the way who hadn't pre paid."

Torman Horst 29/11/2015

"If you want to visit Cordoba's Mezquita, having a guide is a must. This tour revealed so much of the cathedral-mosque's fascinating history and diverse architectural styles."

Rachel H.San Francisco

"This tour was well organized. The guide was professional."

MarekPrague

+34 699 34 11 42

info@medinaazahara.org

MEDINA AZAHARA CORDOBA

Audioguide App

Departure from Medina

Pick up Cordoba

Private tour to Medina Azahara

Medina Azahara - The World Heritage of Humanity

MEDINA AZAHARA PALACE