The Plaza del Potro sits quietly in Córdoba's San Francisco-Ribera neighborhood, one of those squares that feels lived-in rather than polished for tourists. I've always found it more atmospheric than some of the city's grander spaces, maybe because it carries genuine layers of history without trying too hard to impress.

The square takes its name from the Renaissance fountain at its center, crowned by a bronze colt rearing up on its hind legs. They installed this fountain back in 1577, though the horse figure came later in 1847 when they moved the whole thing from one end of the plaza to the other. The name might also come from the old Posada del Potro that still stands here, or from medieval horse fairs that apparently took place in the area. Nobody seems entirely certain, which somehow makes it more interesting.

What strikes me most is how Cervantes wrote about this very spot in Don Quixote. He spent part of his childhood around here, and you can almost picture him absorbing the atmosphere of this neighborhood. The innkeeper in his novel mentions the plaza, though not exactly as a recommendation – more as one of those places with a certain reputation.

The Posada del Potro still operates, sharing its building with a flamenco club. Across the square, you'll find the Julio Romero de Torres Museum alongside Córdoba's Fine Arts Museum in the same building. There's also one of the city's many monuments to Saint Raphael, moved here in 1924 from another square where it was falling apart.

The whole area was quite different originally. The plaza used to be completely enclosed until 1870, when the city demolished a building on the south side to open it up toward the Guadalquivir River. This gave it the rectangular shape and river access it has today.

Walking through now, especially in the evening when the light hits the fountain just right, you get a sense of all those centuries of activity. It's not as immediately striking as some of Córdoba's monuments, but there's something authentic about how it has evolved. If you want to dig deeper into its stories, there's a Plaza del Potro audio guide available that covers the legends and historical details I've only touched on here.

The square connects naturally with walks along the river or toward the old town center. It's the kind of place that works better when you're not rushing.