Courtyard of the Orange Trees

The Courtyard of the Orange Trees (Patio de los Naranjos) is an enclosed courtyard attached to the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, regarded as one of the oldest surviving gardens in Europe. Its story begins in 784–786, when construction of the Great Mosque started under Emir Abd al-Rahman I, with the courtyard originally serving as the place where worshippers performed ritual ablutions before prayer.

How did the courtyard take shape?

The porticoed galleries surrounding the courtyard were begun under Abd al-Rahman I and completed by his successor Hisham I, who also added the minaret and the ablution chamber. A further major expansion came under Abd al-Rahman III, when the courtyard was extended toward the north. During the Caliphate period, the mosque's northern façade remained open directly onto the courtyard; only after the Christian conquest, as chapels were added along the perimeter, did the space gradually become enclosed.

When did it acquire its present appearance?

The three galleries were rebuilt during the tenure of Bishop Martín Fernández de Angulo (1510–1516), under the direction of architect Hernán Ruiz I. The courtyard's current character and name, however, are credited to Bishop Francisco Reinoso (1597–1601), who proposed turning the space into a garden — the point at which the layout began to resemble what visitors see today.

Where do the orange trees come from?

During the Islamic period, the courtyard was planted mainly with pomegranate, cypress and palm trees rather than citrus. Records confirming the presence of orange trees date back to at least 1512. Today the courtyard holds 98 orange trees, arranged in rows aligned with the columns of the prayer hall inside the mosque and linked by a network of irrigation channels. Beneath the courtyard's surface lies a large water cistern that once supplied the water needed for ritual washing.

What fountains stand in the courtyard?

Two main fountains remain. The more prominent is the rectangular Fuente de Santa María, dating from the 17th century, with four pillars each fitted with its own water spout. The second, smaller Fuente del Cinamomo stands in the southern part of the courtyard and dates from the mid-18th century.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Courtyard of the Orange Trees part of the Mosque-Cathedral? Yes, it is the enclosed forecourt of Córdoba's Mosque-Cathedral complex, accessible directly from the street and connected to the building's interior.

What was the courtyard originally used for? During the Islamic period it served as the place for ritual ablutions before prayer, and it also hosted public functions such as teaching.

How many orange trees grow in the courtyard today? There are currently 98 orange trees, planted in regular rows.

When did the courtyard become the garden seen today? Its present form dates mainly from works carried out at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly under Bishop Francisco Reinoso between 1597 and 1601.