History
In order to answer the question related to the origin of the courtyards,
because many people ask it to visit them, we have to background till the far civilizations set up in the past, such as the Egyptian, the Greek o the Roman. Then the houses were disposed around a courtyard where the family life was developed. A lot of these civilizations brought their culture, language... and above all their architecture. In this way this form of construction reached to Cordoba and a lot of corners of the Iberian Peninsule.
The Cordov
an courtyard has its origins in the roman houses, or what is the same, the house is typically Mediterranean, Outdoor simple, and no stairs (at least not many), which was entered from a patio, with marble floors and central fountain. The Muslims kept this typology but they added the "Riats" (flowerbeds) with flowers and water, that came from a well or a fountain. In the Middle Age the courtyard is one of the most important buildings even in the religious ones.
But nowadays what we know as Neighbours House has its origin in the modern age, because the need to increase, due to the huge demand, the number of homes, because a lot of people came from the countryside to the city. These homes should be, first, afford
able, thus creating a type of construction similar to the old inn. So a lot of houses belonged to the aristocracy were divided into different houses with a lot of rooms and external staircase for going up the 1st floor, and making room for all the neighbours.
The typical Cordovan courtyard, as we know it today, consists of a discreet entrance in hallway which gives access to the courtyard where public areas are situated in the house: laundry rooms, kitchens and toilets, and the entr
ances of the other neighbour’s houses. The walls are whitewashed and full of geraniums, jasmines, lilies, roses, carnation, etc,that give a unique colour and scent. Besides there is a typical well in the middle and a staircase linked to the upper rooms. In some cases the orange trees or lemon trees are present.
The town hall of Cordoba inaugurated the first "Contest of Cordoban Courtyards" in 1918, but it was supposed to be created in 1933, because it was in this year when it was popularized
. The contest stopped during the Civil War but in the 50s they began again thank to the Don Antonio Cruz Conde‘s impulse. Even some houses were restored after the Civil war because they were partially destroyed. Besides, in the second part of the XX century a new association was created: "Association de Friends of the Cordoban Courtyards". The aim of this association is to avoid the lost of the tradition due to the lack of people living in the ancient section and due to the grow old of the population of this zone. What is clear is that the most important courtyards are in San Agustin, Santa Marina, San Lorenzo, Juderia and San Basilio sections.
Finally, we would like to conclude mentioning the great effort and considerable investment involved for the residents in these neighbourhoods, who spend much time caring for their courtyards so that, upon reaching the month of May, visitors and tourists can enjoy at its best.
because many people ask it to visit them, we have to background till the far civilizations set up in the past, such as the Egyptian, the Greek o the Roman. Then the houses were disposed around a courtyard where the family life was developed. A lot of these civilizations brought their culture, language... and above all their architecture. In this way this form of construction reached to Cordoba and a lot of corners of the Iberian Peninsule.
The Cordov
an courtyard has its origins in the roman houses, or what is the same, the house is typically Mediterranean, Outdoor simple, and no stairs (at least not many), which was entered from a patio, with marble floors and central fountain. The Muslims kept this typology but they added the "Riats" (flowerbeds) with flowers and water, that came from a well or a fountain. In the Middle Age the courtyard is one of the most important buildings even in the religious ones.
But nowadays what we know as Neighbours House has its origin in the modern age, because the need to increase, due to the huge demand, the number of homes, because a lot of people came from the countryside to the city. These homes should be, first, afford
able, thus creating a type of construction similar to the old inn. So a lot of houses belonged to the aristocracy were divided into different houses with a lot of rooms and external staircase for going up the 1st floor, and making room for all the neighbours.
The typical Cordovan courtyard, as we know it today, consists of a discreet entrance in hallway which gives access to the courtyard where public areas are situated in the house: laundry rooms, kitchens and toilets, and the entr
ances of the other neighbour’s houses. The walls are whitewashed and full of geraniums, jasmines, lilies, roses, carnation, etc,that give a unique colour and scent. Besides there is a typical well in the middle and a staircase linked to the upper rooms. In some cases the orange trees or lemon trees are present.
The town hall of Cordoba inaugurated the first "Contest of Cordoban Courtyards" in 1918, but it was supposed to be created in 1933, because it was in this year when it was popularized
. The contest stopped during the Civil War but in the 50s they began again thank to the Don Antonio Cruz Conde‘s impulse. Even some houses were restored after the Civil war because they were partially destroyed. Besides, in the second part of the XX century a new association was created: "Association de Friends of the Cordoban Courtyards". The aim of this association is to avoid the lost of the tradition due to the lack of people living in the ancient section and due to the grow old of the population of this zone. What is clear is that the most important courtyards are in San Agustin, Santa Marina, San Lorenzo, Juderia and San Basilio sections.
Finally, we would like to conclude mentioning the great effort and considerable investment involved for the residents in these neighbourhoods, who spend much time caring for their courtyards so that, upon reaching the month of May, visitors and tourists can enjoy at its best.
Text: P.R.M.
Traslated by Sara Moretti
Art, ulture and Tourism in Cordoba