Plaza de las Tendillas

This charming square in the heart of the city is starting to steal the spotlight from Córdoba’s main square, Plaza de la Corredera. It’s a popular gathering place where locals come to chat, enjoy a drink, or do a bit of shopping. Long a place for gatherings, strolls, and celebrations, Plaza de las Tendillas remains one of the liveliest spots in Córdoba, if not the liveliest. Designed in the early 20th century, the square features a striking equestrian statue at its centre, depicting Don Gonzalo Fernandez, known as the “Great Captain” for his bravery and excellence during the Castilian War of Succession in the 15th century. The statue was sculpted in 1920 by Córdoba-born artist Mateo Inurria Lainosa, and it’s the subject of a curious legend. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the head is made of white marble, while the rest of the statue is bronze. Some say the head was taken from a sculpture of famous bullfighter Rafael Molina Sánchez, nicknamed “Little Lizard,” one of the greatest matadors of his time. But that’s just a myth... While the head does represent the Great Captain, the material contrast was the sculptor’s choice, meant to give the figure a more lifelike and expressive appearance. You may have noticed another statue on top of a nearby building to your right. This was once the headquarters of the insurance company La Unión y el Fénix. Built in 1927 by architect Benjamín Gutiérrez Prieto, the statue depicts a man mounting a phoenix, the former company's emblem come to life. Just behind that building is a hotel that once belonged to the Counts of Colomera. In front of you, you’ll spot a clock mounted on one of the façades. But this clock doesn’t chime with bells. Instead, it plays the notes of a flamenco guitar, performed by the great Spanish guitarist Juan Serrano. There is no doubt that Plaza de las Tendillas stands out as one of Córdoba’s most beautiful and historic squares, and certainly one of its most popular.