Inn of the Colt
As we explained previously, the section of Saint Nicholas of La Ajerquía was an
economical and trade center of the city. Besides in this part of the city the artisans were concentrated. The trade push brought travellers, traders and fair men, coming from every part of Spain what enhanced the creation of guest houses, tavernas and inns.
One of the most crowded streets was the Mesones Street and Lucano Street. Despite the endurance of many of them till the XX Century, others were destroyed was turning them into more modern business: hotels, restaurant etc…
In this surroundings there was the colt guest house in the square of the same name. In the past it was a house of prostitution, an activity that was ruled by the
authority and approved. Nowadays there are some of them but less than 20 or 30 years before. The most important were in the Lucano Street and Rey Heredia Street and surroundings.
The façade of the colt guest house is plain and whitewashed. We enter through a shouldered wooden arch. Inside there is a wonderful court, irregular almost rectangular from which you can get the different rooms that are developed in two storeys. The second floor has a balustrade with wooden ceilings. The contrast with its white walls is spotted as well as
the green of the plants and brown wood.
A great number of legends are related to this guest house. The most important has the captain of Pedro I’s the cruel army as main character: "the captain decided to stay a night in the taverna, he brought a briefcase. The inn owner realized of it. When the captain entered his room a young girl warned him about the inn owner and his bad reputation. Early in the morning the inn owner entered the room through a little door but the captain realized of it and run away to Seville. There
he told the fact to the king. The king discovered that it was true and sent someone to make justice. The inn owner was bound to the window and then some colts trod him. Then it was discovered that the girl’s father was murdered by the inn owner. Later the girl married the captain".
The guest inn kept its primitive function till the XIX Century, then the zone lost its trade importance. Since then the building was used as neighbours court till the middle of the past century, being then abandoned. But in the seventies the mayor Salcedo Hierro rescued it from the oblivion of 20 years.
Nowadays is the Culture delegation of the Town Hall of Córdoba, tourist office information and exposition centre.
economical and trade center of the city. Besides in this part of the city the artisans were concentrated. The trade push brought travellers, traders and fair men, coming from every part of Spain what enhanced the creation of guest houses, tavernas and inns.
One of the most crowded streets was the Mesones Street and Lucano Street. Despite the endurance of many of them till the XX Century, others were destroyed was turning them into more modern business: hotels, restaurant etc…
In this surroundings there was the colt guest house in the square of the same name. In the past it was a house of prostitution, an activity that was ruled by the
authority and approved. Nowadays there are some of them but less than 20 or 30 years before. The most important were in the Lucano Street and Rey Heredia Street and surroundings.
The façade of the colt guest house is plain and whitewashed. We enter through a shouldered wooden arch. Inside there is a wonderful court, irregular almost rectangular from which you can get the different rooms that are developed in two storeys. The second floor has a balustrade with wooden ceilings. The contrast with its white walls is spotted as well as
the green of the plants and brown wood.
A great number of legends are related to this guest house. The most important has the captain of Pedro I’s the cruel army as main character: "the captain decided to stay a night in the taverna, he brought a briefcase. The inn owner realized of it. When the captain entered his room a young girl warned him about the inn owner and his bad reputation. Early in the morning the inn owner entered the room through a little door but the captain realized of it and run away to Seville. There
he told the fact to the king. The king discovered that it was true and sent someone to make justice. The inn owner was bound to the window and then some colts trod him. Then it was discovered that the girl’s father was murdered by the inn owner. Later the girl married the captain". The guest inn kept its primitive function till the XIX Century, then the zone lost its trade importance. Since then the building was used as neighbours court till the middle of the past century, being then abandoned. But in the seventies the mayor Salcedo Hierro rescued it from the oblivion of 20 years.
Nowadays is the Culture delegation of the Town Hall of Córdoba, tourist office information and exposition centre.
Text: J.A.S.C.
Traslated by Sara Moretti
Art, ulture and Tourism in Cordoba