Calleja de las Flores

Walk to the little square at the end and turn round. That image, the Mosque tower framed between two white walls covered in flowerpots, is one of the most famous postcards in Spain, and it is taken from exactly where you are standing.

1From shared courtyard to icon

This lane was originally a courtyard shared by several households that over time turned into a street. Its present look is not as old as it seems: it is the result of a makeover in the mid-1950s, when the city council set out to beautify several corners of the old quarter for the tourists who were beginning to arrive. The architect Víctor Escribano Ucelay designed the little arches, replaced the cement paving with river pebbles and placed a caliphal capital on the corner at the entrance.

The fountain in the square was made in 1960 by Rafael Bernier, a resident of the lane and a teacher at the art school, using archaeological remains, including a Roman column.

Blue pots hung on the walls are a classic of Cordoban patios: the colour makes the red geraniums and the white lime stand out.

In spring, and above all in May, the flowers are at their best. Come early if you want the photo without crowds.

2What to look for

• The Mosque tower, framed from the little square.
• The caliphal capital on the corner at the entrance.
• The fountain with the remains of a Roman column.