When I first stumbled upon Plaza de la Luna in Córdoba, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this small square tucked away near the Jewish Quarter. The entrance through the ancient gate immediately caught my attention - it's actually built into the western wall of the Roman fortifications from the 1st century AD, though the current opening was created much later during restoration work in the 1960s.

What strikes you first is how intimate this space feels. It's more like a quiet courtyard than a traditional plaza, with stone walls creating a sense of enclosure that makes you feel like you've discovered something hidden. The Puerta de la Luna itself leads you through what was once part of a 17th-century bishop's palace, and you walk through this elongated passageway before emerging into the small square.

The centerpiece here is definitely the fountain dedicated to Pan, designed by José Rebollo in 1964. The sculptor Rafael García Rueda used his own son's face as the model for the child playing the flute - a detail that adds a surprisingly personal touch to this ancient setting. Above it, there's a baroque stone cartouche, and a column topped with an iron image of the Virgin of Luna stands in front.

From this little plaza, narrow streets wind their way into the Jewish Quarter, and that's really where the magic happens. These aren't the main tourist thoroughfares - they're the kind of authentic Córdoba streets that feel unchanged for centuries. The whole area has this layered quality where Roman walls meet medieval passages and Renaissance details.

I've noticed that many visitors rush through on their way to the more famous sights, but spending a few quiet minutes here gives you a different perspective on the city's complexity. The audio guide available for the area does a good job of explaining the historical layers if you want to dig deeper into the Roman and medieval stories.

The connection to the nearby Palacio de los Luna on Plaza de San Andrés adds another dimension - that 16th-century mansion with its plateresque facade represents the wealthy families who shaped this neighborhood. It's fascinating how these different eras of Córdoba's past converge in such a compact area, from Roman fortifications to Jewish heritage to noble houses, all within a few steps of each other.