The best gravel rides around Fuente Palmera

Scattered along the riverbed, christened by the Arabs as Guadalquivir (“great or copious river”) as it passes through the World Heritage city, are what were once symbols of the milling industry in Córdoba, which today remain inserted in an unparalleled landscape setting, silent witnesses to the city's evolution.

03/26: now an area guarded by dogs.

Circular route from Turruñuelos Park, Córdoba, passing through: - Torrehoria Viewpoint (19.5 km) - Torre del Beato (23.1 km) - Torre de las Siete Esquinas (24.5 km) - Bridge over the canal (29.5 km) The route begins along the Guadalmellato Canal, ascends through La Canchuela, Llanos de los Mesoneros, passes the El Cruce gas station, enters the "Fangor" forest, Torrehoria, Camino del Nuo Bajo, Torre del Beato, Torre de las Siete Esquinas, and from there descends to reach the start of the Trassierra Trail. Except for the descent from Siete Esquinas, the route, exceptionally beautiful given the recent rainfall in the mountains with runoff everywhere, follows paths without technical difficulty, making it even more appealing. It's a challenging distance but offers stunning views of the surrounding area and the city and its environs from the highest points.

The Church of San Pedro (now the Minor Basilica of San Pedro) is one of the oldest and most historic churches in Córdoba. It was built on the remains of a 4th-century basilica that housed the remains of the Cordoban martyrs Januarius, Martial, and Faustus. After the Christian conquest (1236), Ferdinand III ordered its construction between the 13th and 14th centuries, forming part of the Ferdinandine churches.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is one of the most impressive monuments in the world, a symbol of Islamic art in the West and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It was originally the Visigothic Basilica of San Vicente, shared by Christians and Muslims. In 784, Abd al-Rahman I began construction of the mosque, which was expanded by his successors: Abd al-Rahman II, Abd al-Rahman III, Al-Hakam II, and Almanzor. After the Christian Reconquista in 1236, it was consecrated as the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, and in 1523 a Renaissance basilica was built inside.

Castillo de Almodóvar del Río (Hisnu-l-mudawar; "the round castle") is a castle of Arab Muslim origin in the town of Almodóvar del Río, Province of Córdoba, Spain. Previously a Roman fort, the current structure is of Arab Umayyad origin, in the year 760. During the Middle Ages, it underwent several renovations and reconstructions. Between 1901 and 1936, it was restored by the owner Raphael Desmaissiers, 12th Count of Torravala, under the technical direction of the architect Adolfo Fernández Casanova. The most important towers are the Cuadrada, the Redonda, and the Homenaje.

The Molino de la Albolafia is located very close to the Roman bridge and on the right bank of the Guadalquivir. It was built by Abd al-Rahman II to bring water from the river to the emirs' palace via an ingenious aqueduct. The mill has a restored naura or water wheel, which was originally ordered to be dismantled by Queen Isabella La Católica because of the noise it produced near the Alcázar, the royal residence. This mill has been part of the city's coat of arms since the fourteenth century.

Córdoba, on the northern bank of the Guadalquivir, is one of the three largest cities in Andalusia, along with Seville and Granada, but is quieter than the other two. The beautiful city was once the heart of Roman Baetica and later one of the leading centres of Al-Andalus. The mosque-cathedral with red and white arches symbolises the enormous wealth of Spanish-Islamic civilisation. But the Mezquita, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is certainly not the only thing the city has to offer. Churches and palaces, a maze of narrow streets and alleys, patios and balconies full of flowers: everything invites you to a romantic exploration full of surprises.