About Inmaculada Luque
I’m Inmaculada Luque, a licensed Córdoba guide writing about the Alcázar and how to book the tour that suits you.
Who I am
I live in San Basilio, the Alcázar Viejo quarter, two streets from the ticket office. I’ve been a licensed guide here for over a decade, walking visitors through the halls and gardens before, during, and after the 2025–2026 restoration closure. I know this fortress intimately—not just the official story, but what the works actually mean for a visit, which sections open when, and how to navigate the real conditions on the ground.
Why this site
When the Alcázar closed for works in 2025, visitors kept booking without knowing that most of the palace was inaccessible. When it reopened partially on 16 June 2026, people asked me the same questions again: Is it really open? What can I actually see? Which tour is worth my money given what’s closed? So I built this site. I review the most-booked GetYourGuide tours, read the actual traveller feedback, and tell you what’s real: what works, what doesn’t, and what’s honest about the restoration. I earn a small affiliate commission if you book through the links, but that doesn’t change my ratings—I recommend the tours based on what I’ve seen and what guests actually say.
The Alcázar
The fortress sits on the Guadalquivir riverbank next to the Roman Bridge. Built in 1328 by King Alfonso XI on the site of the earlier Umayyad palace. Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs, held court here during the Granada campaign; Christopher Columbus was received here in 1486. It was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition from 1482 until the 19th century, then a civil prison until 1931. The UNESCO World Heritage listing (1994) wraps the Alcázar, Mezquita-Catedral, Roman Bridge, and the Calahorra Tower together as the Historic Centre of Córdoba.
Right now (summer 2026), you can see the gardens, walls, courtyards, the Salón de los Mosaicos with Roman mosaics, the Patio Morisco, royal baths, and the towers. Interior rooms open progressively as works finish. That’s not a bad visit—those elements are the draw. But the half-open status is the angle I center on. Know what you’re getting before you pay.
Questions or corrections? Get in touch.