On 28 February, Andalusia marks the 1980 referendum that granted the region its autonomous status — the result of a genuine popular movement. In December 1978, more than one million Andalusians had taken to the streets demanding regional autonomy. Córdoba marks the regional holiday with pride and a festive edge.
Flag raising and the anthem
The day starts with the solemn raising of the green and white flag on the Plaza de las Tendillas, with the Andalusian anthem composed by Blas Infante in 1933 and officially adopted in 1982. The flag's colours come from the Umayyad and Almohad dynasties — green for hope, white for peace. Blas Infante, regarded as the father of Andalusian nationhood, was shot in 1936 for his autonomist views. The flag-raising is short and genuinely felt.
Flamenco and gastronomy
Flamenco, sevillanas and folk music fill the squares and streets throughout the day. Many monuments and museums offer free or reduced entry, including the Mezquita-Cathedral and the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs. Traditional food takes centre stage at stalls across the city: salmorejo (Córdoba's cold tomato soup), Andalusian gazpacho, pescaíto frito, ham molletes and olive-oil bread.
Practical information
Regional public holiday: banks, government offices and schools are closed. Tourist monuments and restaurants stay open with special hours. The official ceremony happens in the morning (around 12:00), with festivities running all day into the evening.
For the best of the day: go to the Plaza de las Tendillas for the ceremony, then use the afternoon for free monument entry — the Mezquita and Alcázar are the obvious choices — before ending the evening with food and music in the squares. Check shop and transport schedules, as some services run reduced on public holidays.
