I don’t think we have ever seen flower pots as wall decorations in such profusion, outside of one of those “thanks for agreeing to water my plants while I’m gone” memes. It turns out that is a real practice and we saw it in abundance in Córdoba, giving the city a true sense of place. Our first viewing was at the Palacio de Viana — pots carefully set within a windowscape, on the courtyard floor, and then in a courtyard on the wall.
We went out for a stroll one evening and saw the Calleja de las Flores. It was really magical at night, with many young couples visiting to take selfies and sneak a kiss among the flowers. The street offered a-beautifully framed view of the cathedral bell tower.
Around town we noticed several homes and historic sites ornamented with wall pots.
We signed up for a tour of the courtyards in the San Basilio neighborhood, where we visited eight private patios and got a true sense of the city’s tradition, if mostly hidden from the casual passer-by. We also learned it was a way of creating a cool space for residents during the intense summer heat in Andalucía, as well as a source of herbs and vegetables for the house.
As an armchair gardener (I let Markipedia manage the gardens), my first thought was, “How do they water them all?” But this kind of beauty doesn’t require reason or explanation. Enjoy — with my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and adventure-filled 2023!
Developed and maintained by Inspiratech LLC.
Design by Themeshift.
Chef Mimi
December 27, 2022 at 6:14 amWow. It’s mind boggling, for sure! But beautiful. So glad you had a fabulous trip. Happy New Year!
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:12 amIt truly was a fantastic trip, Mimi! Happy New Year to you, as well!
James Cutfield
December 27, 2022 at 8:17 amEnchanting! And interesting to note mostly the same conical shape. My mind went to watering also! Beautiful photos, thank you for sharing.
Susan Esco Chandler
December 27, 2022 at 9:05 amSo glad you took a deep dive to see more! Such fun and so clever. Loved the color of blue on the tiles and pots. Thank you for sharing so much of your Spanish adventures with all of us.
We are grateful for your generosity, David.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:14 amThe blue used in Córdoba was amazing – flower pots, windows and doors – just beautiful. I am glad you are enjoying these adventures, Susan
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:13 amI do recall our guide showing us a contraption they used to water but the one I saw could never go as high as needed!
Jill W Becker
December 27, 2022 at 10:44 amOh so beautiful. Wonder if could do here on porch with drip system. Hmmmm.
Hope you and Mark are having a wonderful holiday. xoxo
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:14 amI think it is worth a try, Jill!
Susan Manfull
December 27, 2022 at 10:55 am“Enchanting,” as one of you readers wrote! And inspiring! 🤔 Could I do that?
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:15 amI think one of the challenges we would all face is how the water would affect the exteriors of our homes. Your wooden clapboards would not like this!
Eha
December 27, 2022 at 2:38 pmOh, how absolutely gorgeous! Ordinarily I am probably the ‘pottiest’ gal on the block (no jokes please) and these photos both surprise and delight ! Love the narrow alleyways enriched thus . . . ! From a practical viewpoint do wonder how they get watered as rain, to the best of my knowledge is oft scarce in that part of the country . . . choice of plants perchance . . . ? A big thanks for sharing . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:16 amI was completely captivated by Córdoba for all the reasons you just mentioned, Eha — the narrow streets, the pots, the colors… Many of the pots had geraniums but, within the courtyards, there were so many different varieties – it was quite amazing.
Sippitysup
December 27, 2022 at 5:27 pmAndalusian is (was in the 1920s) a popular architecture style in Los Angeles. In fact the house across the street from us as a similar (though less elaborate) pot display.GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:18 amThat is interesting, Greg – I suppose the “Spanish COlonial” movement really was more about the Andalusian architecture. How do your neighbors water their pots?
sherry
December 27, 2022 at 5:54 pmhow extraordinary and attractive are these pots!? I love the blue ones. Hope you had a great Xmas Day.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:18 amThey because a form of art in themselves, don’t they Sherry? The blues were my favorite, too. Christmas here was quiet and good – hope you had a nice one!
Mad Dog
December 28, 2022 at 10:23 amSome of those hidden patios were where the Jews and Moors practiced their religions in secret, after they were forced to convert to Catholicism. All those beautiful terracotta pots are incredibly cheap, as are the terracotta cazuelas for cooking.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 28, 2022 at 11:20 amThat completely makes sense, Mad Dog. Our guide might have mentioned this but my Spanish is so bad and I had a hard time understanding him. Being gardeners, Mark and I understood all the plant names… 🙂
Ronit
December 29, 2022 at 10:34 amThanks for sharing this beauty. It definitely uplifts the spirits!
By the way, Whole Foods closest to me doesn’t carry the octopus… I’ll keep on looking. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2022 at 10:02 amThanks, Ronit — I’m so glad you felt that way, as we did.
Sorry your WF doesn’t carry the frozen octopus. 🙁
Valentina
December 29, 2022 at 2:35 pmThere’s something so joyful about so many pots with plants and flowers. Really awesome! I’d love to create a wall like one of those one day. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
December 30, 2022 at 10:03 amMe, too, Valentina — but, as the garden is Mark’s realm, I need to leave it to him!
Jeff the Chef
December 31, 2022 at 8:17 amHow beautiful. I can only imagine how much work that must take. How clever of you to sign up for that tour! Thanks for sharing the pics.
Cocoa & Lavender
December 31, 2022 at 8:45 amYou know, Jeff, it was only with this trip that I became aware that Airbnb offers really good experiences at very reasonable prices. Definitely worth it!
Marian Jensen
January 2, 2023 at 11:48 amBoth sweet and wildly romantic. Love this!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 4, 2023 at 8:28 am“Wildly romantic” is the perfect description, Marian!
Raymund
January 3, 2023 at 3:05 pmOMG my wife would love this place, she loves plants and this is heaven for her. In my bucket list now
Cocoa & Lavender
January 4, 2023 at 8:15 amI hope you do get to take your wife there, Raymund. But I imagine it’s quite a trip from New Zealand…
2pots2cook
January 4, 2023 at 2:01 amAnd again, beautiful but also practical with all those flowers and herbs and spices! Amazing!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 4, 2023 at 8:13 amThe flower pots in the patios were really astonishingly beautiful. And the funny thing is that so many of them were empty yet their beauty remained.
The-FoodTrotter
January 9, 2023 at 11:40 amYou are so lucky to travel to Andalucia, so far my favorite region in Spain! Since I’ve been in Cordoba in late August, the weather was a bit too scorching to really appreciate the patios, and few were completely open. I guess in Autumn and above all, in Spring, it must be more spectacular. I also fell in love with Palacio de Viana that showcases so many different garden arrangements on such small space. Gorgeous!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 13, 2023 at 7:44 amOoh — August must have been brutal, Romain. I’m glad we opted for October, but I think you are right — spring would be great for the patios!
Córdoba | Palaces & Gardens – Cocoa & Lavender
January 11, 2023 at 3:02 am[…] I think of Palacio’s 12 patios. The significance of these patios in no way negates the value of Los Patios de Córdoba, about which I wrote previously. Here I share several different views of the palacio’s patios and […]
Karen (Back Road Journal)
January 16, 2023 at 9:51 amI’ve really enjoyed all your incredible photos from your trip but especially enjoyed all the pot filled courtyards. I think our summers here in Florida are not conducive to having walls decorated like this but I love the idea.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 16, 2023 at 1:25 pmYou know, I am not sure what the best climate is for this type of wall décor… dry? humid? No matter which is best, it must still be a lot of work to do the watering!