Attractions and Places To See around Villaviciosa De Córdoba - Top 20

"Madinat al-Zahra, the Shining City" The museum/visitor center and the archaeological site are free for EU citizens. A shuttle bus runs approximately every 20 minutes from the visitor parking lot to the archaeological site. A one-way ticket for adults costs €3. There is a café serving refreshments in the visitor center. More information is available here: https://www.museosdeandalucia.es/web/conjuntoarqueologicomadinatalzahra/servicios-e-instalaciones

Medina Azzahra, a palace city located a few kilometers from Córdoba, began construction under the Caliphate of Abd al-Rahman III. Construction continued under Al-Haqin II. A third of the revenues of Muslim Spain were needed to build this fortress and official residence. Twelve thousand workers worked tirelessly, with workers from Byzantium and Baghdad arriving. The descriptions of Arab chroniclers portray Medina Azzahra as truly dazzling, a fact that has been further confirmed by excavations. The city was surrounded by a robust wall, with several spacious courtyards inside. Numerous rooms have come to light, but much remains to be excavated.

One of the vestiges of the Caliphate period can be found in the mountains of Córdoba, less than 15 minutes by car from the capital. It is an ancient watchtower, a lookout from where you can enjoy one of the most impressive views of Córdoba and the Guadalquivir valley. Despite its name, it is actually an octagonal tower, meaning it has eight corners. However, inside it has a square floor plan, with each side measuring approximately 3.40 meters. Built of masonry, a construction method in which irregular stones are joined with mortar, a conglomeration of lime, sand and water without any order of courses. Originally, this tower was part of a network of watchtowers that surrounded the Caliphate of Córdoba and was visually connected to other towers. The Tower of the Seven Corners, despite its poor condition, is a popular destination for cyclists and hikers. A visit to this place can be combined with a visit to the Hermitages of Cordoba, the Baths of Poppaea and the Fountain of the Elephant. (Source: https://www.cordoba24.info/html/torre_siete_esquinas.html)

Located in the district of Santa Maria de Trassierra, next to the Arroyo del Molino, a tributary of the river Guadiato. It is a mill of Arab origin, probably from the 10th or 11th centuries, whose purpose was to grind flour. These medieval mills made it possible to produce flour in large quantities for 10th-century Caliphal Córdoba. (Source: https://www.conocetusfuentes.com/datos_elemento_884.html)

Located on the Caño Escaravita estate, just beyond the outlying neighborhood of Santa María de Trassierra. We found it in the western Sierra peri-urban district, next to the crossroads leading to the Ermitas and the Mirador de las Niñas, about fifteen kilometers from Córdoba. This is a zoomorphic water fountain on a pedestal from the Caliphate period, dating back to the 10th century. The sculpture represents a small elephant. Made of gray limestone from the Sierra Morena, it served as a support for the spout. The fountain is made up of three components: a water collection basin, a masonry pillar attached to it on its north side (which leads to a masonry irrigation ditch), and a rectangular pool located to the west of the canal. https://amedinacordoba.com/fuente-del-elefante/

The Baths of Poppaea are a natural stretch of small waterfalls alternating with small pools that follow the course of the Molino stream, near the mouth of the Guadiato River. This area was visited by Christopher Columbus. Its name comes from the place where the Cordoba poets of the Cántico Group used to visit, as during the Franco regime it was a safe place, away from the scrutiny of this intellectual group, as well as the homosexuality of some of them. One day, three members of the group, Pablo García Baena, Juan Bernier, and Ricardo Molina, were walking when they saw some girls bathing in the stream. The latter exclaimed, "Look, like Poppaea in the bath," referring to the Roman Empress Poppaea Sabina, a prominent figure at the time due to the film The Sign of the Cross (1932), in which actress Claudette Colbert appeared bathing in donkey's milk, just as the Empress did. The girls told the residents of Trassierra about this incident, and from then on, the story spread and became known as the Baths of Poppea. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba%C3%B1os_de_Popea

An incredible place, a structure and construction that transports you to the Roman era. It is worth taking the route and spending some time enjoying the site.

Please note that this highlight is also listed in the description as a parking spot. However, we found that it is not allowed to drive up to the indicated parking spot/start of the route with a car. Just park near the jardin de popea and start the hike from there, it will add 2.5 km to the distance but is not too bad.