Santa Marina

Santa Marina is a traditional neighborhood in the north of the old town, known as the bullfighters’ neighborhood and home to one of the city’s best palaces.

Orange trees along a street beside an iron fence

About the neighborhood

According to Wikipedia, Santa Marina was one of the largest neighborhoods of Córdoba, in size and population, and many of the city’s nobles lived here. It is known as the barrio de los toreros, the bullfighters’ neighborhood, because of its strong bullfighting tradition. It borders Ollerías to the north, San Lorenzo to the east and San Andrés-San Pablo to the south.

What to see

The Church of Santa Marina is a 13th-century Mudéjar church built on the remains of a 9th-century mosque. In front of it stands the Plaza del Conde de Priego, with a statue honouring the bullfighter Manolete. Other sights include the Torre de la Malmuerta (early 15th century), a stretch of the Axerquía wall, and the Palacio de Viana with its twelve patios.

The atmosphere

A more authentic and tranquil feel than the main tourist areas: plazas where children play and taverns where tapas are a tradition. Santa Marina is also one of the neighborhoods named by the tourism website for the Patios Festival and the Cruces de Mayo.

Sources

Sources: Wikipedia (Spanish): Santa Marina; Oway Tours: Santa Marina. Information checked on 1 October 2026.

Keep exploring

Related guides

Landmark

Twelve patios.

Lit stone column and arched courtyard at night

Festival

Early May.

Orange trees along a street beside an iron fence

Neighborhood

Compare the areas.