Palacio de la Merced is now home to the Provincial Government of Cordoba. Formerly a convent of the order of la Merced, this Baroque building dates from the 18th century and sits across from the leafy Plaza de Colon.
The Iglesia de San Pablo stands in front of the town hall. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries but undergoing changes in the 18th, it has a preserved bell tower, spiralling columns at the main entrance, and more.
Next to the Town Hall, the Roman temple was dedicated to the Emperor and sits on top of a raised podium with 6 Corinthian columns at the entrance. The 1st century AD archaeological site is quite large, and it's quite incredible some columns have survived two thousand years of wear and tear although some reconstruction work has taken place. It is believed the temple looked towards a large Roman circus for major events.
I went on to explore the streets around the temple.
Plaza de la Corredera is a monumental wide open space laid out in more recent times. Back in the day, it was a bullring, although other uses included public addresses and even executions. There wasn't much activity in this early morning except for a small cafe that had some patrons eating breakfast. Perhaps it would get busier as the morning progresses.
Continuing the walking tour of the historic centre's eastern side ...
A short walk east of the Roman temple, the Church of San Andrés has a long history of construction and destruction. The lower section of the tower was built in the 16th century while the upper section is a century more recent.
While the Palacio de Viana looks plain on the outside, easily discounted by passers-by, the interiors are lavishly furnished and consists of multiple gardens that provide many serene and shaded places to enjoy the beautiful southern Spanish weather. However, photography inside the palace itself is not allowed, which is very unfortunate as each room had its own unique theme and character.
