ARCHIVED - The Cordoba Fiesta de los Patios festival celebrates 100 years between May 3 and 16

Cordoba’s Fiesta de los Patios is open until May 16, marking 100 years since it first began.

The competition, which has been included on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, since 1921, was last year postponed until October due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The traditional Courtyards Festival (Fiesta de los Patios), with around 50 courtyards and 26 balconies taking place, will be held from 3-16 May after organisers put in place safety measures to ensure the festival complies with coronavirus restrictions.

PCR tests have been carried out on all the owners of the courtyards and also on the 58 personnel who will work at the contest.

Other safety measures will include sensors to detect overcrowding as well as drone surveillance.

The courtyards taking part will be open for visits from 3-16 May from 11.30 am to 2 pm and from 6 to 10 pm, apart from Sunday 16 when doors will close at 8.30 pm.  The patio at Plaza Ramon y Cajal is only open in the morning from 11.30 am to 2 pm.

Some of the courtyards out of the competition but which are still open for visits have restricted hours specified in the description sheets of each courtyard.

Prizes for winning courtyards generally range between 1,000 and 3,000 euros and are very much coveted by owners of the properties, who all work hard to make theirs as beautiful and spectacular as possible, dressing the courtyards of their homes with flowers and plants.

If you are interested in going along to the Fiesta de los Patios de Cordoba, then it's highly recommended to book accommodation in advance while further details can be found on the organiser's website.