Córdoba and Saida strengthen cultural cooperation ahead of their year as Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue 2027
16 October 2026, Córdoba, Spain. Representatives of Córdoba (Spain) and Saida (Lebanon), the two cities designated as Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue for 2027, came together in Córdoba from 14 to 16 October for a working visit aimed at advancing preparations for their joint year of celebrations. The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen institutional ties, explore cultural and educational partnerships, and develop initiatives connecting both shores of the Mediterranean.
The three-day programme brought together representatives of Córdoba City Council, Saida Municipality and the Hariri Foundation, alongside local cultural, educational and heritage institutions. Discussions focused on developing a joint programme of activities for 2027, promoting exchanges between the two cities and identifying opportunities for long-term cooperation beyond their year as Mediterranean Capitals.
The visit opened with an official reception hosted by the Mayor of Córdoba, José María Bellido Roche, followed by a technical meeting with Juan Miguel Moreno Calderón, Commissioner for Córdoba’s Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2027 programme.
On 15 October, the delegations held a series of working meetings dedicated to the Córdoba–Saida Cultural Collaboration Project and a joint educational initiative. Exchanges with cultural and heritage managers explored opportunities to showcase the cities’ shared Mediterranean heritage, foster intercultural dialogue and encourage collaboration between local institutions.
A visit to Casa Árabe, where the delegation was welcomed by Director-General Miguel Moro Aguilar and Córdoba Coordinator Javier Rosón, provided further opportunities to explore cultural partnerships. Representatives toured the institution’s headquarters, recently declared a Site of Cultural Interest, and learned about its exhibitions and cultural programme. Casa Árabe is working alongside Córdoba City Council, Saida Municipality and the Hariri Foundation to promote activities connecting cultures and civilisations through heritage, dialogue and shared Mediterranean values.
The programme also included institutional meetings with Adolfo Molina Rascón, Delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Córdoba, and Manuel Torralbo Rodríguez, Rector of the University of Córdoba, as well as exchanges with Córdoba’s Councillors for Culture and Youth, Isabel Albás Vives and Cintia Bustos Muñoz. Cultural visits, including to Córdoba’s historic centre and Mosque-Cathedral, offered further opportunities to explore the city’s heritage and its longstanding connections with the wider Mediterranean.
Building bridges through culture and dialogue
The Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue initiative, promoted by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Anna Lindh Foundation, seeks to celebrate the region’s cultural diversity, strengthen dialogue between communities and foster cooperation through culture.
As the 2027 titleholders, Córdoba and Saida will have the opportunity to highlight their cultural identities while developing connections between artists, cultural organisations, educational institutions and citizens across the Mediterranean.
The working visit represents an important step in preparations for 2027, laying the groundwork for a programme of cultural and educational exchanges and joint initiatives that can generate lasting partnerships between the two cities.
Through their cooperation, Córdoba and Saida aim to demonstrate how culture and shared heritage can bring Mediterranean communities closer together, turning dialogue into concrete opportunities for collaboration across the region.
