Medina Azahara de Córdoba

Medinat al-Zahara, the magnificent and mysterious city that Abd-al Rahman III ordered to be built at the foot of the Sierra Morena, eight kilometres from the capital, contains, even in its name, legendary stories. Popular tradition states that, self-proclaimed Abd al-Rahman III caliph in 929 AD, and after eight years of reign, decided to build a palace city in honor of his favorite, Azahara. However, recent studies provide strong evidence of the cause that prompted the caliph to found Medina Azahara. A renewed image of the newly created Independent Western Caliphate, strong and powerful, one of the largest medieval kingdoms in Europe, is accepted as the most likely origin of the new Medina.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has included the city of Medina Azahara on the list of protected cultural sites on 1 July 2018, in a debate in which there were no objections.