Column of San Rafael (Triunfo de San Rafael), Córdoba

Making a circle around the Mezquita, I went back to Salinas Plaza (Plaza de las Vallinas).

This is a small elevation near the triumphal square, surrounded by a stone parapet-bench.

At the entrance to the square there is a column dedicated to the Archangel Raphael (Triunfo de San Rafael). Despite the name, it has nothing to do with victories (triumphs) it does not have, but was built as a sign of gratitude for getting rid of the plague that broke out in Cordoba in the 13th century. According to legend, the Archangel Raphael appeared in a dream to the Bishop, don Pasqual, and told him that he had to save the city from a calamity. The result was the opening of a hospital for the poor, in the very place where the monument was erected.

The idea to perpetuate the memory of this event belongs to the city Council, which in 1736 commissioned the design of a monument to Roman sculptors. However, the sketch was rejected, and the work involved the artist Domingo Esgrois, and the sculptor Simon Martinez, who worked at the court of the king of Sardinia. In 1738 the project was approved, but its implementation began only in 1765 and was completed in 1781.

Основание монумента представляет собой каменный грот, на входом в который укреплена доска с латинской надписью, из которой понятно только слово "medicina". Так же есть несколько табличек на латыни на ограде памятника.

Над гротом мы видим скульптуры из белого мрамора, изображающие покровителей Кордовы - мучеников Асискло, Виктории и Святой Варвары (Acisclo , Victoria y Santa Bárbara).

Высота сооружения 21 метр, строительство обошлось в шесть тысяч песо.

Затем я прогулялся по Римскому мосту (Puente Romano),

where there is another monument to the Archangel Raphael.

Puerto del Puente-the gate leading from the bridge into the city, was once part of the city wall.

The may cross festival was still Going on in Vallinos square, and there was a lot of activity at the canopies with drinks and food even well after midnight. The window of my room in the guest house "Trinidad" came to cardinal Gonzalez, where the bars at each step and the audience wandered hours until 3am, not letting me sleep, and at 5am I was awakened by the harvest equipment.