Córdoba (Arabic: قرطبة [Qortoba], in English: Cordova) is a city in Andalucía, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. Located at 37.88° North, 4.77° West, on the Guadalquivir river, it was founded in ancient Roman times as Corduba by Claudius Marcellus. Its population is 321,164 as of 2005.
Today a moderately-sized modern city, the old town contains many impressive architectural reminders of when Córdoba was the thriving capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba that governed almost all of the Iberian peninsula. It has been estimated that Córdoba, with up to 500,000 inhabitants in the tenth century, was the largest city in Western Europe and, perhaps, in the world.

History
Its location on the banks of the Guadalquivir river and its easy access to the mining resources of the Sierra Morena (coal, lead, zinc) satisfy the population's needs.
The city is located in a depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir. In the north is the Sierra Morena, which delimits the borders of the municipal area.

Geography
Córdoba has a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic coastal influences. Winters are mild with isolated frosts.
Summers, with increased daily thermal oscillations, have the highest maximum temperatures in Europe, exceeding 40°C occasionally. Local Minimum summer temperature is 27°C, the highest in Spain and Europe. Precipitation is concentrated in the coldest months; this is due to the Atlantic coastal influence. Precipitation is generated by storms from the west that occur more often from December through February. This Atlantic characteristic then gives way to a hot summer with significant drought more typical of Mediterranean climates.
Annual rain surpasses 500 mm although there is a recognized inter-annual irregularity. In agreement with the climatic Classification of Köppen, local climate can be described as Csa.
Registered maximum temperatures at Córdoba Airport (located at 6 km of the city) are 46.6º (23rd, July 1995) and 46.2º (1st, August 2003). Minimum temperature is -8.2º (28th January 2005).

Climate

Important buildings

The Mezquita: The mosque, which dates back to the Umayyad period (its construction started in 784), was converted to a Cathedral after the Reconquista.
Synagogue (14th century)
Fernandine- and Alphonsine-style churches (13th century)
Monasteries and broods (some of them are desafected) Civil and military architecture

Roman archaeological remains (temple, mausoleum)
Islamic archaeological remains (minarets preserved in the churches, Arab baths)
Archaeological site of Madinat Al-Zahra (10th century)
The Roman Bridge Archaeological sites

Garden of the Victory
Garden of the Rivas Duc
Garden of the Agriculture
Garden of the Conde de Vallellano
Garden of Juan Carlos I
Park Cruz Conde
Sotos de la Albolafia
Balcón del Guadalquivir
Peri-urban park of Los Villares
Park of the Miraflores Famous people born in Córdoba and its province

Al Qayrawan, Tunisia
Damascus, Syria
Manchester, United Kingdom
Bourg-en-Bresse, France
Fes, Morocco