"Al-Andalus and Water Mastery" The Legacy of a Civilization

Albolafia Waterwheel and Mill - Córdoba (I)

**Origin and Spread**

The Albolafia Waterwheel is one of the most famous hydraulic symbols of Al-Andalus. It was built in the 8th century during the Umayyad Emirate to lift water from the Guadalquivir River and irrigate the gardens of the Alcázar and the palatial city of Medina Azahara. Its name comes from the Arabic «al-bula’fiyya», possibly in honor of the caliph who ordered its construction (Al-Walid II or Abd al-Rahman I).

**Unique Features**

- It was a river-powered waterwheel (driven by the river's current), but it could also be operated by animals during low-water periods.

- It had a massive size, with clay or wooden buckets that lifted water to an upper channel, supplying the city.

- It was connected to a system of grain mills, using the same hydraulic power for grinding, making it a multifunctional engineering marvel.

**History and Legacy**

- It was restored by Alfonso X the Wise in the 13th century after the Christian conquest, but in the 15th century, Queen Isabella I of Castile ordered its dismantling because the noise disturbed her during her stays at the Alcázar.

- In the 20th century, it was partially rebuilt as a historical landmark, and today it can be seen near Córdoba’s Roman Bridge, remaining one of the city’s most iconic sights.

**Fun Fact**

The Albolafia appears on Córdoba’s coat of arms since the 15th century, highlighting its importance as an Andalusian engineering masterpiece.

If you visit Córdoba, don’t miss it by the river!