Córdoba has to be on your radar if you are looking for a place that is less known and saturated, but very authentic due to its monumental wealth. Did you know that it has four World Heritage properties? In recent years, it has greatly improved its connections and MICE offering. After Madrid and Barcelona, it is the Spanish city with the highest number of connections and daily frequencies, through long and medium distance AVE (Spanish High Speed) trains. As for venues, it has a new congress and fair venue (the Córdoba CEFC Fairs and Conventions Exhibition Center) and the only Congress Palace in Spain that is next to a mosque-cathedral and that houses hundreds of works of art.
Improvement in connections
Córdoba has its own airport and has several international airports nearby, less than two hours away (Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Granada and Jerez). After Madrid and Barcelona, it is the Spanish city with the highest number of connections and daily frequencies through long and medium distance AVE (Spanish High Speed) trains. From 2023 you can also reach Córdoba through low-cost marketing companies (AVLO, IRYO and OUIGO).
Ease of getting to Córdoba thanks to the AVE. The 144 attendees at the Almar consulting convention arrived in Córdoba, most of them by AVE, from the different locations: Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Seville, Valencia, the Canary Islands, A Coruña, Murcia and Portugal. The Social Eventos agency chose the Abetos del Maestre Escuela Hotel for the plenary meeting, the gala dinner and the closing party. The meal was held at the Bodegas Campos hotel and included a live musical performance. There was a horse show at the Royal Stables.
New Exhibition, Fair and Convention Center
With more than 12,000 m2, the recently inaugurated CEFC highlights its main exhibition area: an open space of 4,700 m2 that can be configured in up to 16 different formats with a modular system of panels and stands. Its large capacity allows it to be held from small meetings to events for 1,800 people or commercial exhibitions for 5,500 attendees.
The only Congress Palace next to a mosque-cathedral
Located in the Jewish quarter and next to the Mosque-Cathedral, it stands on the old Hospital Mayor of San Sebastián. It has an auditorium for 760 people and spaces to celebrate all types of events such as the Palace Patios (urban architecture). The remaining rooms preserve the style of the 16th century. The entrance to this building is through a façade, which is one of the main representations of Gothic in the city, giving way to a 17th century chapel. XVI where events can also be held.
Spaces on the banks of the Guadalquivir where you can experience the essence of Cordoba. For BNI’s 10th anniversary, the Moeve agency organized a networking event for 500 companies with meetings in Torre de la Barca, a space between the Guadalquivir River and the countryside, surrounded by farmhouses. They took advantage of the outdoor area to finish with a Cordoban pot with views of the city.
Varied hotel offer
Córdoba has a powerful hotel plant where you can find accommodation of all categories: from large national chains to luxury hotels, corporate hotels, small boutique hotels built on old houses, ancestral mansions… Currently Córdoba has 155 establishments, 8,720 beds and 4,338 rooms.
A city with cultural wealth for your events
Increasingly, cultural offerings are a priority for event attendees and Córdoba has a historical-monumental heritage unique in the world where you can take attendees: the Mosque, Medina Azahara, The Alcázar of the Christian Kings (from the 13th century built on Roman and Arab remains where different events and shows can even be held) or the Synagogue (from the 14th century, unique in Andalusia and one of the three that are preserved in Spain). If you want to offer a wellness moment at your events, the Arab baths of Santa María, a few meters from the Mosque, can be a good option. And in Los Pedroches, Starlight Reserve (certified destination with low light pollution), you can organize astrotourism activities and stay at a farm in the area, such as Finca Obejuelo.
Gastronomic experiences and teambuilding
If one thing is certain, it is that Córdoba has an outstanding culinary tradition with unique dishes with Cordoba roots such as oxtail or flamenquí. There are up to 7 designations of origin (olive oil, wine, vinegar and ham) and 3 Michelin star chefs.
All in all, Córdoba is positioning itself as a gastronomic reference and, according to the agency Social Eventos, with its clients Gastronomic teambuildings are very successful. They divide the participants into several teams of 8/12 people, who compete against each other to make a Cordoban perol, a mixed paella or a set of tapas (to choose from). Finally, the best is voted on and a prize is awarded.
The city of flowers
Those attending your event in Córdoba can have the experience of a patio with the new routes and guided tours of the patios in the different neighborhoods. Also, the private initiative has launched “FLORA”, a festival where international floral artists transform and decorate representative buildings of Córdoba with flowers (as in the opening photo). In short, there are countless parties and events related to the flower that you can take advantage of as an attractive hook or even as a creative concept around which your event revolves.
