The patios of Córdoba in May

What it is

Houses in old Córdoba are built around a patio, an inner courtyard that keeps rooms cool through the fierce Andalusian summer. Residents cover the whitewashed walls with pots, often painted blue, of geraniums, carnations and petunias, and train jasmine and bougainvillea overhead. Since 1921 the city has held a contest for the best patio. During the Fiesta de los Patios, in the first half of May, dozens of private courtyards open along signed routes through the districts of San Basilio, Santa Marina, San Lorenzo and the old Jewish quarter. UNESCO lists the festival as intangible cultural heritage. The owners are usually there, watering can in hand.

Before you go

• Go on a weekday. Weekend queues at the best known patios can be long.
• Patios close in the afternoon and reopen in the evening. Plan a morning and an evening round.
• These are homes. Greet the owner, do not touch the pots, and leave a coin in the dish if there is one.

The flowers you will see

PelargoniumA diverse group of flowering plants often grown as garden and house plantsCarnationA fragrant flower with ruffled petals, grown worldwide for decoration and meaningJasmineA group of fragrant shrubs and vines with white or yellow star-shaped flowersPetuniaA South American garden flower with trumpet-shaped blooms in many colours

Also part of it, and being written: Bougainvillea.

More in Spain

🇪🇸 Plasencia · Mar to AprCherry blossom in the Jerte valleyA mountain valley in Extremadura where terraces of cherry orchards flower white together for about ten days in early spring. 🇪🇸 Barcelona · All yearThe flower kiosks of La RamblaA stretch of Barcelona's central promenade lined with flower kiosks since the nineteenth century, busiest on 23 April. 🇪🇸 Granada · Apr to OctThe Generalife gardens above the AlhambraThe summer estate of Granada's Nasrid rulers, where water channels run between roses, myrtle, jasmine and orange trees.