While wandering through the narrow lanes of Cordoba's Jewish Quarter pause to appreciate this statue of a Cordoba native who wrote works of major importance.
The Monumento a Maimónides depicts one of the greatest Jewish philosophers of the Middle Ages. The seated bronze sculpture is dedicated to Moses ben Maimon, more commonly known as Maimonides. He was a 12th-century Jewish philosopher, physician and scholar of the Torah, the first part of the Jewish bible.
Maimonides was a Cordoba native and is regarded as one of the greatest Jewish philosophers of medieval times. His writings include the Guide for the Perplexed and the Mishneh Torah, which is still used today.
Look closely at the monument, a depiction of the philosopher sitting on his tomb, which is located in Tiberias, an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Read the plaque which concludes with the place and date of his death, Cairo in Egypt in 1204. Observe the brightness of the statue’s shoes. According to local folklore, this is because if you touch them you will receive some of Maimónides’ wisdom.
Leave the statue to continue with your exploration of the Jewish Quarter. Also located in this neighborhood is the Bullfighting Museum, housed inside the Casa de las Bulas de la Santa Cruzada, a 16th-century mansion. On display are costumes, photographs and many other artifacts that provide insights into bullfighting in Cordoba and the wider region of Andalusia. About a minute walk north from here is the Cordoba Synagogue, a 14th-century building with beautiful plasterwork.
Among the other highlights of this part of Cordoba's Old City are the Chapel of San Bartolomé and a museum dedicated to Spanish-Jewish culture and history.
Find the Monumento a Maimónides in Plaza Maimonides, a small square surrounded by whitewashed buildings. Come by bus or drive and park for a fee in the garages close to the entrance of the Jewish quarter. Street parking in this part of the city is difficult to come by.
