|
The Jewish Quarter
To know the origin of the section we have to fall back to the Roman Period especially to the period when Córdoba was Colonia Patricia. Since the Augustus Period the city begins its enlargement towards south and since then the Jewish Quarter begins its urbanization and organization.
In the VI Century, as a consequence of a politic and religious power, begins a modification of the city. A new civil palace is built in the place where the Episcopal Palace was, all this linked to the Byzantine temple found out in Convent of Sain Claire and the rests of Saint Vincent Basilica found under the Primitive Mosque, speaks about the vast complex situated in the south of the city.
After the conquest of Córdoba in 711, the zone was very important; in fact most of the public and residential building was there. The Jewish did not occupy this zone, but later, in the low middle age. At that time the Jewish quarter was in the North zone of the medina. This fact is directly linked to the proximity of the Christian Alcazar; in fact the Crown protected the judaism. Since then the Jewish professed the Judaism till their expulsion run by the Christian Kings, they occupied the Jewish quarter.
The borders were a bit different from those of nowadays. For example the Jewish Quarter occupied partially the zone of the Old Alcazar (Saint Basil) being the jewish cemetery situated in the zone of Doctor Fleming Street. Nowadays the Jewish Quarter is delimitated by these streets: Judíos, Averroes, Tomás Conde, Manríquez, Almanzor, Romero, Deanes, Judería, Maimónides Square, Tiberíades, Judá Leví, and Cardenal Salazar Square.
What is clear is that the complex shows a good conservation, however there are other aspects that are important to remember: the traffic and the shops are spoiling this zone a little.
In the heart of the Jewish Quarter there is a square: Maimónides Square. This one was known in the past as Los Armentas Square, due to the name of the family that lived there. Then it was named Square of Bulas or Square of Arcediano. Finally we have to say that it is a very important place of our city.
The Tiberíades Square is smaller than the previous one but not less attractive. In it there is a wonderful sculpture by Mateo Ruiz Olmos that represents the cordovan philosopher Musa Ibn Maymun, or Maimonides. Frequently some cordovan musician come here to play something, so it is one of the most important places of the city.
The Jewish Quarter is comosed by two axes: the first is composed by Judíos Street and Tomás Conde Street parallel to the walls and the second is composed by Almanzor Street and Romero Street. Between these two axes there are narrow streets some of them blind, typical of the muslim period.
Especially interesting is the Judíos Street. When you enter you can breathe a wonderful scent of wine. This scent comes from the Tavern Guzmán, where you can have a nice talk drinking a tasty white wine, the fino. A little further there is the Casa Andalusí that leads you through the music and the scent to the wonderful world of the middle age of Cordoba. Then we reach the Synagogue, the temple and the handcraft market, the zoco. As it was said in the past: "the rush has to be left outside the walls, the time stops in the Jewish street, whose name keeps the echo of the past steps of the sefardies, walking to the Sinagogue". |
