Courtyards in Cordoba
Due to the hot, dry Cordoban climate, the city's inhabitants, - first
the Romans and later the Muslims - adapted the typical design of the
popular house to their needs, making the home centre around an inner
courtyard, normally with a fountain in the middle and often a well to
collect rainwater. The Muslims made further adjustments, giving the
house an entrance from the street which passed through a porch, and
filling the courtyard with plants to give the sensation of freshness.
Types of courtyards
There are clearly two types of courtyard.
The first type is in a one-family home in which the rooms are arranged
around the courtyard - it usually has arches and either a clay tiled or
decorative pebbled floor.
The second type is called a neighbour-house (casa de vecinos). Here the
individual homes look out onto the courtyard - however, these are much
less common nowadays. It usually has two floors and the courtyard is
made all the more attractive by the long balconies, staircases and baked
clay roof tiles. The floors usually have decorative pebbles and there
is often a well instead of a fountain, as well as a communal washing
room.
Courtyard competion
Since 1918, the Town Hall has organised a competition of
Courtyards and Crosses in the first week of May, and the owners decorate
their houses with great care to try and win the prestigious award
offered by the authorities. A festival runs in parallel with a number of
performances by the best singers and dancers on the scene, while the
local
fino wine from
Montilla-Moriles flows freely and delicious
tapas are served.
It is thanks to these events that the Cordoban courtyard is becoming
more and more important in popular festivities, and helps the general
public to celebrate and welcome these festivals with enthusiasm and
hospitality.
During these days in may all the patios will be open to the public and will be free of entrance.
Source
: www.turismodecordoba.org
In French/Français:
www.turismodecordoba.org
