Archaeological Museum: Take a look at the historical legacy of Cordoba

 

The historical legacy of Cordoba ramifies into various cultures and currents that have shaped the city we know today: a millenary city more alive than ever that feeds on its past and present so that we can enjoy it, even for a few days.

One of the faces of Cordoba is the cultural one. A historical face that can be enjoyed through the innumerable museums of the capital. Today we bring you a tour of the museum where this historical legacy is materialized in archaeological pieces. These will take you on a millennial walk through the history of what once was the western capital in the Caliphate era. Do you want to know more about the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba? Today at Oway Tours we tell you all about it. Don’t miss it!

 

About the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba

The Archaeological Museum of Cordoba is an almost obligatory stop if you are a lover of art and culture and are lucky enough to visit our city for a few days.

The museum brings together archaeological and ethnological remains that help us understand the development and cultural influence of the city of the three cultures. Cordoba brought together the epicenter of Jewish, Christian and Muslim civilization for a long period of time.

Throughout the museum’s rooms you will be able to enjoy the different spaces dedicated to prehistory, protohistory, Roman culture, Visigothic art and the traces that Al-Andalus drew in the city of knowledge.

Among his outstanding works are paintings and sculptures and numerous material testimonies from different periods. Some of these are the tombstones of gladiators or the capitals of the Andalusian Cordoba.

A little bit of history

Its origin goes back to the first half of the 19th century, thanks to the expropriation of Juan Alvarez de Mendizabal. From then on the works seized from convents were gathered in the Provincial Museum, having its end in 1867 with the birth of the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Cordoba.

The year 1960 becomes a milestone when the museum is housed in the Renaissance Palace of the Paez de Castillejo, where it is located today. As a curiosity, the palace was built on the ruins of the old Roman theatre of the city.

 

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Curiosities

The displacements of the Museum

The location of the works in the place in which they currently are has not been static over time as they were moved on several occasions. At the beginning of the 19th century, when the idea of creating the Archaeological Museum arose after the expropriations, the works were exhibited in the Hospital of the Charity (Hospital de la Caridad, which is the space now occupied by the Museum of Fine Arts). Later one was moved to a house located in San Juan de Letran Square. The other was moved next to the Mosque. In 1960 the works were accommodated in the Palace of the Paez Castillejo family, which is currently one of the most complete Archaeological Museums in Spain.

The evolution of its construction

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the museum began a transformation and expansion project in which it still is immersed nowadays. In the year 2000 an international competition was held and the architects Joaquin Lizasoain, Pau Soler and Jesus Maria Susperregui won. This finally drew up the architectural project for the extension located on the site adjacent to the Palacio de los Paez Castillejo. Before carrying out the new construction, a previous geotechnical study was done. It indicated that in this very place there were remains of Roman Cordoba, specifically of the theatre. Such was the importance of the discovery that the work was halted pending a reformed project that would take them into account.

It was in 2004 when the new project was completed. Two years later it had to be renewed as it still affected the foundations. In 2006 the Roman remains were integrated into an exhibition itinerary. Finally, an area of over 3,000 square meters was built, with exhibition rooms (Room I: Prehistory, Room II: Protohistory, Room III-V: Roman Culture, Room VI: Visigothic Art and Rooms VII-VIII: Al-andalus), a restoration laboratory, an area for reserving, offices, library and archives. All these spaces are developed in an uneven space, so the new building is stepped.

How to get there

The Archaeological Museum of Cordoba is located in the Plaza de Jeronimo Paez number 7, close to Rey Heredia Street, which connects it to the Jewish Quarter, and to San Fernando Street. The last would lead to Seneca Square, where the back door of the museum is located. Given its location in the vicinity of the historical center, access is exclusively on foot. Despite this, bus lines 1,3,4,7 and 12 would save a few minutes as they have stops nearby.

Visit the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba

As you can see, the museum is an exciting journey through the remains of Cordoba. You can access for free if you are an EU citizens; for other countries the price is just 1.5 euros.

Timetables

From January 1^st to June 15^th

Tuesday to Saturday: 9h00 – 20h30

Sundays and holidays: 9h00 – 15h30

From June 16^th to September 15^th

Tuesday to Sunday and holidays: 9h00 – 15h00

From September 16^th to December 31^st

Tuesday to Saturday: 9h00 – 20h30

Sundays and holidays: 9h00 – 15h30

Cordoba offers you its best face through its gastronomy, culture, art… and the history that is kept alive through its museums. Are you going to miss it?

Ticket prices

All European Union citizens have free entry and those of different nationalities would pay a cost of 1.5 euros. If you wish to arrange a group visit, it should be arranged in advance either by telephone (957 35 55 25) or by e-mail (museoarqueologicocordoba.ccul@juntadeandalucia.es).

On the other hand, you can consult the best guided tours of Cordoba in the following links, where you will find our best guided tours, such as:

• a Free Tour around Córdoba
• the Guided Visit to the Mosque-Cathedral
• a Guided Visit to Medina Azahara
• the Guided Visit to the Patios of Cordoba

And much more…