We have been living in Spain for 15 months and still had yet to see the Mesquite in Córdoba, so we planned a last-minute weekend getaway. We knew this was a great town to park the car and enjoy the weekend by foot, but it was time to find that perfect place to rest at night. We prefer to book an apartment, so we can have a little extra space as well as a kitchen. This really saves on spending too much eating out and it is nice to have cold drinks handy. We also wanted to be sure we were in the old town area, so we wouldn’t need to use the car. After scouring the internet, we happened upon the Apartamentos Alberca and it looked like a gem. Reservations were made and we were on our way.
Now one thing about renting a place in any city center, especially these old cities with pedestrian only and one-way streets everywhere, it is difficult to navigate in a car. We had the directions handy and the navigation was working well. We were just about 2 blocks away from the Apartamentos Alberca, but we missed the turn! Normally in the modern world you would just make a few lefts or a few rights and find your way back. Not in the city of Córdoba. We attempted to do the 3 left thing and ended up quite a distance away. We decided to just pull over and give Manuel, from Apartamentos Alberca a call to let him know we were now running late.
Let me tell you, Customer Service Lives in Córdoba, Spain! Manuel was so kind and told us to just stay put. He came to meet us on his bicycle and guided us back to the Apartments. Mind you, it was about 55’F out, so it wasn’t a warm day. We entered the apartments and it was like stepping into our “home”. The patio at the entrance was just gorgeous and welcoming. Manuel went above and beyond by carrying in our luggage, taking us to the car park and then upon return providing us with maps and loads of tourist information. He took the time to tell us about all of the sights, his favorites, special times to visit for free as well as the best walking route to each one. I am not sure we have ever had such customer service.
Apartamentos Alberca
Now let me just share with you a little about the Apartamentos Alberca, the traditional-style house in Cordoba’s historic center. The house, previously the family home, has been beautifully restored and converted to apartments of a very high standard by Manuel and his family. This was the home of his grandparents and he actually lived there for a year as well. It was built in the 14th century, refurbished in the 18th century and then restored and converted to modern and charming apartments in June 2013. This is a family run business with 7 unique and well fitted apartments, some with a small terrace. In the center of the home you will find a calm courtyard and various places to sit and relax.
The Apartment
We stayed on the ground floor at the front of the building in apartment 2, which had a comfortable living/dining area, a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen. There was free wifi throughout the building and it was great to use for that little extra research. The main bedroom had a luxury queen sized bed and bedding with thick warm blankets. The kids stayed on the queen sized pull out sofa. The bedroom was beautifully decorated and there was a flat screen TV that could be situated to face the bedroom or the living room. While this apartment does offer AC, it was November and cold during our stay, so we took advantage of the heater and it was wonderful.
Attention to Detail and Comforts
The attention to detail and the amenities were noteworthy for sure. In the bathroom there was the most beautiful stone sink and along side was a basket full of individually wrapped toiletries (4 toothbrushes with mini toothpaste, 4 combs, 2 shaving kits, shampoo, shower gel, shower caps and more). The kitchen was very well designed with everything you could think of. We were amazed at all of the appliances that were available in such a compact space (microwave, dishwasher, clothes washer, stove, kettle, hand mixer, refrigerator). They even provided an assortment of teas, coffee, and biscuits with fresh creamers and bottled water in the fridge. And we were very pleased with the extra touches of dishwasher tablets and new dishcloths and laundry liquid for the washing machine.
The Location
The apartments are really in an ideal location, on a quiet cobblestone side street, so it was very quiet at night. It was just 1 block from the Roman temple ruins, a Jazz café, several taverns, and the small grocery store. It was about 2 blocks from the Plaza Corredera, with many cafés , shops, and the Municipal Market. Just a couple of blocks the other direction is the main outdoor shopping area Plaza Tendillas. Córdoba is a great city with many beautiful and interesting sights and we were just short walk away, through the pedestrian streets of old town, from the Mezquita, Archaeological Museum, the Roman Bridge as well as the Jewish quarters and many of the other tourist sights.
We would rate this as 5 star service and comforts without the 5 star price. We would definitely recommend staying here and we look forward to returning and spending more time as well.
Check for pricing and availability at Apartamentos Alberca Córdoba
or Contact them directly at apartamentosalberca@gmail.com.
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Apartamentos Alberca Facebook Page
Disclosure: We were hosted by Manuel and in exchange we have provided an honest open review of our stay. Some of the links provided may be affiliate links where we may receive a small commission for your booking.