Portillo’s Andalucia: Cordoba and Costa del Sol (Channel 5 Tuesday 21 November 2023)

Portillo’s Andalucia: Cordoba and Costa del Sol airs Tuesday 21 November 2023 on Channel 5

What can we expect from this episode

Michael travels 100 miles from Malaga to the ancient city of Cordoba in this episode, and he also stops by the Costa del Sol in northern Andalucia..

In addition to being the second-largest city in the area, Michael loves this place and finds that his feelings for it grow stronger with each visit. Michael interprets Cordoba as a tale of the mosaic of Roman, Muslim, and Christian cultures that have shaped modern Andalusia.

Michael uses a Roman bridge to cross the river and enters the Mesquita of Cordoba, a magnificent structure that is both a Catholic cathedral and one of the world’s finest Islamic structures. Michael goes to see a family in Cordoba, one of Europe’s hottest cities, and learns about their Roman-inspired courtyard cooling system, which involves six hundred potted plants that are watered daily and manages to lower the temperature in the courtyard by an incredible seven degrees Celsius.

In honour of the city’s centenary, Michael pitches in as a cook at a restaurant that features cuisines inspired by the many cultures that have left their mark on the area. Seventy million olive trees populate the region around the city, yielding an astounding eighty percent of Spain’s olive oil and approximately thirty percent of the world’s. Summers are getting hotter and drier, which is affecting oil production, but Michael meets a farmer who is trying to find a solution by travelling through time.

Michael returns to Cordoba in quest of a snack and discovers what might be the largest tortilla in Spain, crafted from thirty eggs and seven kilogrammes of potatoes.

Join Michael Portillo as he celebrates Andalucía, one of Spain’s most interesting and diverse regions. It’s an area Michael knows and loves, as well as one where he lives for part of his year. Now, he takes us to six of his favourite spots and reveals what makes them so special.

Each episode focuses on a different main location where Michael meets local people who have a particular connection to that place and who introduce Michael to something they’re passionate about, whether it’s cooking and eating a local delicacy, practising arts and crafts, or delving into Andalucía’s rich history.

Season 1 Episode 3

When can we see the episode

Portillo’s Andalucia: Cordoba and Costa del Sol airs Tuesday 21 November 2023 at 21:00 on Channel 5

Featured image credit: Channel 5