Torre De Calahorra (Calahorra Tower), Cordoba

At the southern tip of the Roman Bridge, standing guard like it never got the memo the war ended, is the Calahorra Tower-Cordoba’s original “no entry” sign. Built in the 12th century when Muslims were still in charge , this chunky gatehouse wasn’t here for decoration-it was here to keep trouble off the bridge and out of the city.

Originally, it was just two square towers connected by an arch. Then things got dramatic. In 1369, King Enrique III of Castile gave it a full medieval upgrade-fortified it, bulked it up, and added a third, round tower in the middle. You might wonder why. Well, he wasn’t a fan of being overthrown by his famously villainous brother, Pedro the Cruel. Family reunions were tense back then.

Inside, you’ll find eight rooms now home to the Al-Andalus Living Museum. It’s not your average museum: think immersive audio-visuals, not dusty glass cases. The exhibits recreate Cordoba’s golden age-when scholars, artists, and thinkers from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism shared ideas (and sometimes dinner) from the 9th to the 13th century.

And if history doesn’t do it for you, the rooftop might. The pierced terrace delivers wide-angle views of the Mosque-Cathedral and the entire Old City-minus the medieval siege engines, thankfully.