The Festival of the Patios Cordobeses is a patio contest in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, held since 1921 and which is generally held during the first and second week of May. The participants decorate and open their patios for free so that they can be visited within the hours established for this purpose. In 1980 they were declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, and after a long process, they managed to register as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on December 6, 2012.
The patios during the Festival are established in three categories: “Ancient Architecture”, “Modern Architecture” and “Singular Patios”. The number of participating patios has been increasing over time, in 2022 a maximum of 55 patios was established for the first time. The Festival reached the highest number of visitors in 2018, with more than one million people, making May the the most touristic month in Córdoba. In addition, the festival is completed with an educational program organized by the Córdoba City Council whose objective is to introduce students to architecture and heritage, as well as promote respect for it. In recent years, the courtyards in competition are marked with hedge pots that are placed flanking the doors, so that they can be clearly identified.
On December 6, 2012, the Festival of the Courtyards was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in a session held in Paris. During the last years and due to said declaration, the number of visitors has not stopped growing, reaching in the last editions more than a million tourists during the two weeks that the Festival lasts. In 2020 it was the first time that the festival It was held in October due to the covid-19 pandemic, while the following year it returned to the traditional month of May. In 2022 the number of participants was increased to 55 patios, in addition to adding a new category: “Singular Patios”, non-profit religious entities, associations or congregations located within the historic center.
In 2023 the new category of “Singular Patios” was renamed “Singular Architecture” with the same aime: non-profit religious entities, associations or congregations. Likewise, the “Young Patio” is rewarded, aimeed to people under 35 years of age and whose prize is 800 euros.
