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Illustration of Maimonides as a medieval Andalusian Jewish scholar-physician in a long dark robe and dark turban-style cap, writing at a wooden table with a quill and an open book in a sunlit Córdoba courtyard
Philosopher Physician Scholar Taifas, Almoravids & Almohads1031–1236

Maimonides

Lived c. 1138–1204 (about 66 years)

Also known as
Rambam, Moses ben Maimon, Musa ibn Maymun, Moses Maimonides

Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon, known in Hebrew as Rambam) was a Jewish philosopher and physician born in Córdoba, on Passover Eve of 1135 or 1138; his own stated date points to 1138. His family left Muslim-ruled Spain after the Almohad conquest of 1148 rather than convert. He died in Fustat, now part of Cairo, on 12 December 1204, after serving as personal physician to Saladin.

His trace in Córdoba is a single quiet corner of the Judería. A bronze statue of him stands in Plaza de Tiberiades, on Calle de los Judíos, near the Córdoba Synagogue, and a plaque in the square marks the 850th anniversary of his birth. The city's side of the story is the statue, the quarter and the museums around it.

Start at the Casa de Sefarad, then follow the Jewish Quarter Walk past the square. For the other great philosopher born in the city in the same century, read about Averroes. The full account of his life, exile and ideas is in Maimonides: Córdoba's Philosopher Who Changed Judaism: read the full story there.

The full story

Places to see

Torre de la Calahorra at the southern end of the Puente Romano de Córdoba
Torre de la Calahorra
Interior of the Sinagoga de Córdoba with its Mudéjar stucco decoration and Hebrew inscriptions
Sinagoga de Córdoba
The Torre de la Calahorra seen from the Roman Bridge, housing the Museo Vivo de Al-Andalus in Córdoba
Museo Vivo de Al-Andalus
Interior courtyard of the Casa de Sefarad in Córdoba's Judería quarter
Casa de Sefarad
Narrow whitewashed alley in Córdoba's Jewish quarter with flower pots and the Mezquita bell tower visible in the background
Jewish Quarter Heritage Walk
The striped arches of the Mezquita-Catedral interior in Córdoba, showing Islamic columns and Christian cathedral elements coexisting in the same space
Three Cultures Heritage Route

In their time

  1. Taifas, Almoravids & Almohads

    1031–1236

    The caliphate broke into taifa kingdoms in 1031, and Córdoba later passed between local rulers and the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties. Averroes and Maimonides were born here, though Maimonides' family fled Almohad rule around 1148.

    1. Ibn Zaydun

      1003–1071 Historical figure

      Ibn Zaydun (1003–1071), Córdoba-born poet of al-Andalus, and the Monument to the Lovers where his romance with Wallada is remembered. Read the full story.

    2. Averroes

      1126–1198 Historical figure

      Averroes (Ibn Rushd) was born in Córdoba in 1126, served as its qadi and wrote on Aristotle. See the statue on Calle Cairuán and where to read his full story.

    Undated

    1. Torre de la Calahorra

      Monument

      12th-century Islamic tower at the end of the Roman Bridge. Museum of Al-Andalus with rooftop views of the Mezquita and Guadalquivir. €4.50 adult entry.

    Go deeper

Read more

Photorealistic interior of the Mezquita-Catedral of Córdoba showing red-and-white striped Umayyad arches receding into shadow, warm golden light, evoking the ziryab cordoba court culture of Abd al-Rahman II in the 9th century
Ziryab: The Musician Who Invented Your Dinner in Córdoba
Ibn Hazm writing the Ring of the Dove in medieval Al-Andalus Córdoba, scholar at a candlelit desk with Arabic manuscript and quill, warm ochre tones, photorealistic
Ibn Hazm's Ring of the Dove: Córdoba's Love Treatise
Interior of the Córdoba Synagogue at Calle de los Judíos, Mudéjar stucco arches and women's gallery with Hebrew inscriptions visible on upper walls, warm directional light, photorealistic
The Córdoba Synagogue's Five Lives Since 1315
Bronze statue of Averroes seated on a stone bench beside the medieval walls of Córdoba's Judería, golden-hour light catching the Almodóvar Gate behind him, photorealistic
Averroes: Córdoba's Philosopher Who Saved Aristotle