Madinat al-Zahra Museum, Archaeological museum in Córdoba Province, Spain.
Madinat al-Zahra Museum is a three-storey building by Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano, two of whose floors lie underground, covering more than 7,300 square metres about 800 metres from the archaeological site. It opened on 9 October 2009 and holds 163 pieces from the palace-city, among them the Cervatillo de Medina Azahara, moved here from the Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba.
The museum opened in 2009 and preserves artifacts from Madinat al-Zahra, a 10th-century palace-city that was the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba. This city was destroyed and abandoned before being excavated centuries later.
The museum holds 163 pieces from the palace-city, among them the Cervatillo de Medina Azahara, a bronze fountain figure of a deer moved here from the Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba. The collection also covers the city's mint, mosques and workshops, and in May 2020 some 22,800 euros were spent renewing the display resources.
The museum includes research laboratories, conservation workshops, a library, and a cafe arranged around a central courtyard. Access to the exhibitions leads through underground spaces positioned beneath the building.
The museum building was designed to incorporate the excavated floor plans of the ancient city, creating a direct connection between the modern structure and ancient remains. This integration allows visitors to grasp the earlier layout firsthand.
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