Las Casas de La Juderia

Las Casas De La Juderia is positively rich with Cordovan history; in fact few hotels anywhere embody their city's history as much as this one does. The site dates from the High Roman Empire, and the hotel has excavated ruins from this period, along with items from the subsequent Al Andalus (15th- and 16th-century Moorish occupation) period, and displays them throughout the property. Today's hotel is housed in a series of historic houses, most built in the 17th and 18th-century for the city's noble families. The majority are done in Mudejar style, which is a blend of Spanish and Moorish design elements, and they're arranged around lovely courtyards with fountains and trees. The interiors feature accents like wood-beam ceilings, Andalusian tile, and Cordovan leatherwork. Guests gather around the small outdoor pool, open all year long, and in the courtyard patio cafe-bar. The hotel brings in tourists for its historic character and prime location in the Jewish quarter a short walk from major sights. Most guests are couples, which isn't surprising given the elegant rooms and romantic atmosphere. 

Las Casas De La Juderia is in an excellent location in the heart of Cordoba's historic Jewish Quarter. Nearly all of the city's major historic attractions are within walking distance, and a bus stop is within a two-minute walk of the hotel. The drawback to this location are the narrow streets and throngs of tourists. The 14th-century Cordoba Synagogue is a three-minute walk and the iconic Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba (La Mezquita) is a little less than a five-minute walk from the hotel. The UNESCO World Heritage Caliphal Baths (Arab Baths) are a three-minute stroll and the Palace of the Christian Kings is five minutes on foot. The north side of the Roman Bridge is a little less than a 10-minute walk, and on the other side of the bridge is the 12th-century Calahorra Tower. The Archaeological Museum is a 10-minute walk, and the Victoria Market and Victoria Gardens will take just a bit longer to reach on foot. Cordoba's train station is a little under a 10-minute cab ride from the property, while the closest major airport is all the way in Seville, a 90-minute drive away.

The 64 spacious and individually decorated rooms and suites at Las Casas are charmingly decorated in Andalusian-Moorish style and are rich in period detail. Decor includes handsome hardwood floors, classical art on the walls, fine wood furnishings, and Moorish-patterned headboards on the beds. Many rooms have accents like carved woods and embossed Cordovan leather. The color palette is a rich red, gold, and brown across all rooms. Standard features include air-conditioning, minibars (some rooms minibar items are free of charge), electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some rooms have private terraces, and some have living rooms. Bathrooms are spacious, done up in striped marblework, and come with make-up mirrors and hairdryers. Some bathrooms have separate showers and jetted tubs. All rooms and public spaces at the hotel are non-smoking. Some guests have noted that noise tends to carry in these old buildings, though it seems to only trouble only a minority of guests.

Despite its city-center location and historic architecture, the hotel has managed to pack a good number of features into a small, boutique package. One of the highlights is the year-round outdoor pool, situated in a distinctive courtyard with potted flowers and sun loungers. It's a little small for a genuine swim, but provides a fine place to cool off, and the pool even has water spouts for that purpose. Poolside drink service is available. The breakfast buffet (for a fee), has a good range of hot and cold items, but it's a bit expensive. It's also worth noting that the breakfast is served in a basement room with no natural light -- it hasn't impressed all guests, unfortunately. The hotel has no full-service restaurant, but there is an outdoor terrace bar and a patio cafe-bar that serves drinks and light Andalusian fare. Limited room service is available. The hotel also has meeting facilities, a small fitness center, business center/library, and small terrace with sun loungers. Valet parking is available for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is available across the property.