Aguilar de la Frontera

Aguilar de la Frontera, the 'eagle's nest on the border', takes its name from the eagle (águila) in its coat of arms and from its position on the medieval frontier between the Christian kingdoms and Moorish territory. The town was reconquered from the Moors in the 13th century and subsequently granted to the Córdoba branch of the Fernández de Córdoba family, who held it as a lordship. The historic centre dates primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Aguilar is a major producer of Montilla-Moriles wines and olives, and the agricultural economy has shaped its development. The octagonal Plaza de San José, the town's signature feature, was built in the late 18th century.

The Plaza de San José, the main heritage sight, is a near-perfect octagonal space surrounded by arcaded buildings of uniform height, a rare form in Spanish urbanism and one of the most photogenic squares in Córdoba province. The Church of Nuestra Señora del Soterraño, an 18th-century baroque structure, overlooks the plaza. The Church of Santa María del Valle, the main parish church, contains fine baroque retablos.

The Ducal Palace (Palacio Ducal) is an 18th-century mansion. Several bodegas in the town produce wines under the Montilla-Moriles DO and offer visits.

Aguilar is 50 km south of Córdoba, easily combined with Montilla (12 km). There are buses from Córdoba. The town is walkable.

The plaza is the obvious focal point. Bodegas can be visited by appointment. A half-day combined with Montilla makes a pleasant Córdoba wine country excursion.