Near the mythical Tendillas square is one of the most impressive Roman remains of Cordoba: the Roman temple, offering a contrast that only the city of the three cultures can have: an austere and Castilian square in contrast to a temple of imperial worship inherited from the emperor Claudius himself.
Discovered by chance in the 1950s, this classical Roman temple is now an essential part of the city’s landscape to surprise the visitor with an authentic archaeological treasure that can be observed in the open air and why not? To see it in the purest Cordovan style, from a good terrace in the sun and with a tapa accompanied by a beer.
En este post podrás leer:
On the Roman temple, the heritage of the Roman marble
Dedicated to the religious worship of the mythological gods, the Roman temple and its impressive columns were erected to demonstrate the power of the Roman Empire in the city of Cordoba.
Of a polished Corinthian style, the temple could be seen from the main road, the Via Augusta, to offer an impressive view from all parts of the city.
A little bit of history
To strengthen the Roman domination in Cordoba, as well as the cult, the emperor Claudius ordered the construction of a temple in one of the main enclaves of the city. Its construction would be completed forty years later under the reign of Emperor Domitian, when the temple was equipped with a technological advance for the time: water supply.
The result was an elegant temple of six Doric columns raised on a podium, surrounded by water and in front of an altar where the rituals of worship could be carried out, practically built in high quality marble, it was located on the border of the Colonia Patricia and close to the circus.
After the fall of the empire, the temple would also fall into oblivion until 1950, when it was rediscovered by surprise in the extension works of the town hall, so today you can enjoy your visit, or even find some original pieces in the Archaeological Museum, from reliefs to capitals.
Facts and curiosities of the Roman temple
- In its day, the temple was one of the most impressive constructions of the empire, the reasons? In addition to its beauty, the temple presents some technical advances of the time, such as the foundations and buttresses -antérides- that prevent the displacement of the wall due to its great weight.
- Although today it has smaller dimensions, the support or antiérides that we mentioned above, indicates that the temple enjoyed colossal dimensions, since it could be seen from the entrance road to Cordoba.
- The monument is a pseudo-peripteral temple, hexastyle and of Corinthian order, 32 meters long and 16 meters wide.
- It was part of the provincial forum together with a circus.
- Its cult was dedicated to the deified emperors.
- The Junta de Andalucía recognized it as an asset of cultural interest in 2007.
- Today these vestiges can be appreciated thanks to the consecutive restoration works, which have allowed to rescue, clean and order pieces to arrange them in the most faithful way to the original.
Visiting the Roman temple of Cordoba
In short, the Roman temple is an obligatory stop on a visit to Cordoba, to get to know its Roman dimension. From a daytime or even nighttime walk to admire the lighting that enhances its magnificence, it is a temple that does not leave the traveler indifferent.
Located in a strategic enclave, near the Tendillas square and the town hall, it is easily found on a walk through the center of Cordoba.
Address: Calle Capitulares S/N
Nearby monuments of interest: San Pablo Church, Tendillas Square, City Hall, Corredera Square, San Miguel Church, Viana Palace, Cuesta del Bailío, etc.
As you will see, today you can enjoy the most Roman side of Cordoba and take a tour of the main vestiges of the era of Roman splendor, when the emperors were divinities and the people had fun with bread and circuses, in the circuses where gladiators fought among themselves and against ferocious beasts.
Will you dare to discover Cordoba?
On the other hand you can consult the best guided tours of Cordoba in the link, in it you will find our best guided tours as for example:
- Guided Tour Mosque of Cordoba
- Free Tour Cordoba
- Guided Tour Alcazar of the Christian Kings
- Guided Tour Medina Azahara
And much more…
