The Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Ensemble, managed by the Regional Ministry of Culture and Sport, will celebrate on July 1st the VIII anniversary of the Caliphal City's recognition as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. To mark this occasion, a special program has been organized, featuring music-related activities, family workshops, and night visits, aimed at deepening understanding of the rich heritage of the site commissioned by Abderraman III, the first Caliph of Córdoba.
The program will commence on Friday, July 3rd, at 10:00 PM, with the concert 'Sada. Por las orillas del río' (On the Riverbanks). This musical proposal invites a dialogue between works by composers such as Manuel de Falla, Federico García Lorca, Leonard Cohen, and Enrique Morente, creating a sonic bridge connecting figures like the Cordoban Antonio Gala and the Algeciras-born Paco de Lucía. The event will take place in the archaeological zone, near the upper basilica building, and will accommodate 150 attendees with free entry until full capacity. The aim is to provide an unforgettable musical experience in one of the world's most unique spaces.
Commemorative activities will continue on July 4th with theatricalized night visits, scheduled every Friday and Saturday until September 19th. Titled 'The Whisper of Water: Engineering, Poetry, and Power in Madinat al-Zahra,' these visits will have two sessions each night: one at 8:45 PM and a second at 10:15 PM. Interested individuals must make prior reservations on the archaeological ensemble's website.
The acting Minister of Culture and Sport, Patricia del Pozo, has reaffirmed the Andalusian Government's commitment to providing quality cultural programming for Andalusia's archaeological and monumental sites. She highlighted that Madinat al-Zahra, which received 228,936 visitors last year, is a major cultural attraction for those visiting Córdoba and Andalusia. She also emphasized that these outreach activities facilitate the transfer of knowledge generated by the site's research projects to the public.
In addition to the night visits and concerts, a family workshop on Caliphal cisterns is scheduled for July 4th at 12:00 PM at the Madinat al-Zahra Museum. Participation in this workshop also requires prior reservation via the ensemble's website.
In August, the program will feature 'Algarabía. Escénica medieval' (Medieval Scenic), an annual theatrical cycle initiated in 2021 that combines stage performances centered around the Middle Ages. From August 5th to 8th, the Caliphal city will once again resonate with music during night concerts at 10:00 PM. Performers will include Artefactum with 'Tempus est iocundum' (August 5th), Umaya with Andalusian-Sufi music and dance (August 6th), Ibrahim Keivo Band with the project 'Cuando caiga la tarde' (When Evening Falls) (August 7th), and finally, closing the program, Layali & Amanes with 'Viaje del maqam. Ecos del Mediterráneo' (Journey of the Maqam. Echoes of the Mediterranean).
These activities specifically commemorate the decision made on July 1st, 2018, by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during its meeting in Manama, Bahrain. Through this designation, the Caliphal City of Madinat al-Zahra joined other sites and monuments in Córdoba declared World Heritage, such as the Mezquita-Catedral and its historic center, as well as the Fiesta de los Patios (Festival of the Patios).
