Córdoba is a historic city in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, in the interior of Mediterranean Spain, next to the Guadalquivir river valley. At the beginning of the 8th century, Córdoba became the capital of the first Hispano-Muslim caliphate. Under the rule of Abd al-Rahman III al-Nasir, the first Caliph of Córdoba, the city experienced a period of great political, economic and cultural development. 

Madinat al-Zahra, a palace city built as an expression of the caliphal power and sophistication of the Umayyad court, dates from this period. Today, only 12% of the palace city is visible, the rest being buried and protected by preventive measures that prevent undue urbanisation. 

It was against this backdrop that the visit to Córdoba began, with Carmen González (Professor at the University of Córdoba - Archaeologist specialising in the history of Arab-Islamic art), from the Green Heritage project organised by Casa Árabe, a consortium's partner organisation, with the aim of promoting the sustainable conservation of Cordoba's cultural heritage. The visit included meetings with local partner associations focused on intercultural dialogue, sustainability and community development, including: 

Pax Patios de la Axerquía (an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Cordoba's traditional courtyards as an eco-social cell), a project that focuses on the sustainable and communal recovery of heritage and which was awarded by Europa Nostra. 

Fundación Las Fuentes - Foundation for social and cultural inclusion - which led us to reflect on the integration of Cordoba's cultural heritage into the Guadalquivir river environment. 

And also Associação Amigos de Medina Azahara - an association dedicated to the promotion, preservation and dissemination of the historical and archaeological heritage of the Medina Azahara site and which promotes the involvement of friends of the Medina who bridge the gap between the city and its heritage. 

The itinerary also included an in-depth look at the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Its construction spanned more than two centuries and was completed in 987, making it the second largest mosque in the Islamic world at the time. 

Finally, the visit was part of the Patios Festival, a springtime celebration classified as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This event allows visitors to get to know the city's floral and architectural heritage, reflecting the community spirit and unique aesthetic of Andalusian culture.  

The GreenHeritage project aims to transform archaeological parks into educational centres, linking the preservation of cultural heritage with the practical teaching of sustainability for new generations. Visit the Green Heritage website Here.