La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
The Mezquita/Cathedral is a rectangular structure surrounded by charming (now touristy) streets. Despite being so touristy, there’s still plenty of charm, history, and architectural beauty. Oh, and Burger King and now Starbucks.
On the street to the west of the mezquita are a series of historic buildings which include the bishop’s palace and the exposition center (aka Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Córdoba). I still haven’t been inside the Bishop’s palace but I finally checked out the exposition center.
Originally the Hospital of San Sebastián built between 1512 and 1516, it served for centuries as a charitable institution and an orphanage. It was converted into a conference center in 1986. The main entrance (photo above) opens into a gothic chapel. The smaller entrance to its left (first photo below) leads to an excellent gift shop filled with quality items (that I decided to not splurge on). Both entrances lead back to a large central Mudéjar courtyard with a statue of Don Quixote de La Mancha atop a stack of books.
The artist Aurelio Teno (1923–2013) was proudly Cordoban. Another Aurelio Teno Don Quixote (atop his horse, Rocinante) has stood since 1976 outside the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., a gift from Spain for the USA’s bicentennial. The Kennedy Center will one day soon again be a place of pride.
Coincidentally, San Geraldo and I just finished watching The Captive, a film about the story of Miguel de Cervantes’ years in captivity in Algiers. Maybe not much of a coincidence, I suppose. Cervantes and Don Quixote are popular topics here in Spain.
Today’s photos offer a brief look at what I saw. Did I mention there’s a 94% chance of rain today, 100% tomorrow, and 89% Thursday? No sun in the forecast. However, at this very moment, the haze is bright. Oh joy.
La Mezquita/Catedral es una estructura rectangular rodeada de encantadoras calles (ahora turísticas). A pesar de ser tan turística, conserva su encanto, historia y belleza arquitectónica. Ah, y también Burger King y ahora Starbucks.
En la calle al oeste de la mezquita se encuentran varios edificios históricos, entre ellos el Palacio del Obispo y el Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Córdoba. Todavía no he entrado en el palacio episcopal, pero por fin he visitado el centro de exposiciones.
Originalmente fue el Hospital de San Sebastián. Construido entre 1512 y 1516, sirvió durante siglos como institución benéfica y orfanato. Se convirtió en centro de congresos en 1986. La entrada principal (foto superior) da a una capilla gótica. La entrada más pequeña a su izquierda (primera foto inferior) conduce a una excelente tienda de regalos llena de artículos de calidad (en la que decidí no gastarme mucho dinero). Ambas entradas conducen a un gran patio central mudéjar con una estatua de Don Quijote de la Mancha sobre una pila de libros.
El artista Aurelio Teno (1923–2013) era orgullosamente cordobés. Otro Don Quijote de Aurelio Teno (montado en su caballo, Rocinante) se alza desde 1976 frente al Kennedy Center en Washington D.C., un regalo de España para el bicentenario de Estados Unidos. El Kennedy Center volverá a ser, pronto, un lugar de orgullo.
Por coincidencia, San Geraldo y yo acabamos de ver El Cautivo, una película sobre los años de cautiverio de Miguel de Cervantes en Argel. Supongo que no es mucha coincidencia. Cervantes y Don Quijote son temas populares aquí en España.
Las fotos de hoy ofrecen un breve vistazo a lo que vi. ¿Mencioné que hay un 94% de probabilidad de lluvia hoy, un 100% mañana, y un 89% el jueves? No hay sol en el pronóstico. Sin embargo, en este preciso momento, la bruma es brillante. ¡Qué alegría!
• The top figure looks like Laughing Buddha.
• La figura superior parece Buda sonriente.
• Soñador de las letras. Aurelio Teno. Fibra de vidrio, poliéster y aluminio. 2004.
• El techo que rodea el patio interior.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I love the wrought iron work in the Ave Maria door!
Debra:
Isn’t that door gorgeous?
Beautiful architecture indeed!!!!! A stunning opening picture.
But thank heavens there is a Starbucks. WHAT EVER would another country and corner do without one?????
Mistress Borghese:
We have ONLY two Starbucks in the city center. I have always loved that building. So glad I finally went inside.
Relax and enjoy. Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
David:
And some people walk AND get wet.
Cordoba is an endless wonderland of architecture and history. So many crossroads of power and changing regimes. Enough for a lifetime of wandering. Boud
Boud:
So true. I have years of discovery ahead.
So much beauty everywhere you look, between the floors and doors and the ceilings. Just beautiful.
Bob:
It fills me with wonder.
What a beautiful building! Almost would have been a pleasure being there back in its hospital/orphanage days.
Enjoy the haze while you can!
Jim:
OK, I’ve enjoyed enough haze. I wonder what the hospital and children’s home were like. Certainly a beautiful space.
The laughing Buddha-like guy is so unlikely there, somehow. But I love him. Also, Cervantes.
I’m so sorry the weather is such crap there now. I know it makes it hard to stay in any sort of decent mood.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The wind was raging this morning. But it made our walk home from the cafe much faster.
I love the stone vaulting on that ceiling! We have sunshine. I just need warmth to go with it.
Kelly:
Isn’t that stone vaulting beautiful? I’d love to have a day of sunshine.
Looks to be quite a bit of erosion in those pictures of the figures.
ellen abbott:
Yes. I suppose there’ll be some restoration soon.
Exciting to think we will be wandering those touristy streets in just a few weeks! I have never read Cervantes. We have it in our library but it looks too intimidating. It’s HUGE.
Steve:
I’m thinking of reading Don Quijote de la Mancha again. It can be slow going. I tried it in Spanish when my Spanish was worse than it is now. My Spanish is STILL not good enough for that!
I love it! There’s something rather wonderful about a gorgeous building like that being preserved and given a new lease of life. And I do love a good museum shop! Jx
Jon:
I should have taken pictures of the gift shop. I was so tempted.
Hopefully the sun will shine again soon. I remember when you were talking about how hot it was last summer.
Michael:
Oh, it will be hot again this summer. But this winter has been the pits (everything’s relative).
I guess you’ll have to start walking with an umbrella, or with the hood up on a long rain coat. Your photos are beautiful. You’re right about the Kennedy Center. That fool’s name will be removed and the great performers will return.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I hate umbrellas but I have a rain coat and a rain jacket, both with hoods. I’m living in them lately.
Striking the contrast between the 19th century architecture and the ultra-modern signage in that top photo.
I have my suspicions that the architecture is probably 16th century, rather than 19th… Jx
Jon:
Yes, built between 1512 and 1516.
Kirk:
I’m sure you meant 16th century. And, I agree it’s a striking contrast and could have been given more thought.
I really like that Teno sculpture.
Walt the Fourth:
So do I. And it was a complete surprise to me when I walked inside.
Exquisite statuary!
Rade:
It’s everywhere. Amazing.
please keep tilting at windmills.
Urspo:
That was the theme of our junior high year book. I thought it was hilarious then given it means to attack imaginary enemies.