Jardines del Alcázar in Cordoba

A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey was carried out at the Lower Garden Esplanade of the Alcázar in Cordoba (Explanada del Jardín Bajo del Alcázar de Córdoba). The investigation covered approximately 1,700 m² and aimed to identify buried archaeological structures beneath open ground.

The GPR data revealed walls, foundations, and major architectural complexes in several areas, including a large north–south-oriented structure in the southwest and additional remains in the northeast and eastern zones. Extensive layers of historic and modern debris were also detected.

The Alcázar of Córdoba (Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos) was a centre of political power throughout the Middle Ages and underwent major architectural transformations over time, many of which are poorly documented. Recent construction work in the northern esplanade revealed previously unknown walls, highlighting gaps in the historical and archaeological record.

In the Jardines Bajos (Lower Garden), the only reliable reference comes from a 1662 map, which shows that the present open space was once occupied by a large architectural complex. In the 17th century, this area housed the Inquisition tribunal and prisons. These findings underline the importance of further research to better understand the Alcázar’s hidden architectural history.