The Legend of Medina Azahara | Spanish Reading A1
Read the legend of the ancient city of Medina Azahara in Cordoba. A romantic story about Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III, his favorite wife, and a forest of almond trees.
La leyenda de Medina Azahara
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About this article
What you'll learn
Vocabulary about places, nature, and present tense descriptions.
An A1 reading text that tells the legend of Medina Azahara in Cordoba. Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III plants thousands of almond trees so that the white flowers look like snow to make his wife happy.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
un espacio abierto en el centro de las casas
newan open space in the center of houses
Patio in Spanish architecture means an open interior courtyard, typical in Andalusian homes. It is open to the sky, which keeps it cool in summer.
Useful for describing traditional Spanish houses.
el corazón de su hogar
newthe heart of their home
For Spanish families, the patio is the most important part of the house — the heart of the home.
Useful expression to talk about what matters most in a home.
el aroma de las flores es muy intenso
newthe aroma of flowers is very intense
El aroma de las flores es muy intenso. The article describes how strongly the flowers smell in the courtyards.
Useful for describing scents and sensory impressions.
un momento de fiesta, música y convivencia
newa moment of celebration, music and community
Un momento de fiesta, música y convivencia. The Festival of Patios is a time when neighbors and visitors come together.
Useful for describing festivals and social gatherings.
un lugar perfecto para
newa perfect place to
Un lugar perfecto para + infinitive. A useful pattern to say what a place is good for.
Grammar pattern for describing what a place is suitable for.
la hospitalidad de la gente del sur
newthe hospitality of southern people
La hospitalidad de la gente del sur. Andalusians share their private space with others during the festival.
Useful word for describing culture and people.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
el patio
el patio
courtyard
Patio is the open interior courtyard of a Spanish house. Do not confuse with jardín (garden).
Core vocabulary from the article that you need to know.
las flores
las flores
flowers
Las flores — flowers. The article mentions geranios, gitanillas, and claveles hanging on white walls.
Essential nature vocabulary.
los colores
los colores
colors
Los colores rojo, rosa y azul. Colors are used with the verb ser to describe what things are like.
Core descriptive vocabulary.
la fuente
la fuente
fountain
La fuente — a fountain or water source. Many patios have a small fountain in the center.
Useful for describing architecture and garden features.
la sombra
la sombra
shade
La sombra — shade or shadow. The patio is cool because of the open space and shade.
Word for describing coolness and sun protection.
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
Present tense: existence
existe una tradición muy hermosa
existe una tradición muy hermosa
The verb existir (to exist) conjugated in present: existo, exists, existe, existimos, existís, existen. Here we see the third person singular.
Learn regular -er verb conjugation in present tense.
Ser for characteristics
los patios son lugares frescos
los patios son lugares frescos
Ser is used for permanent characteristics: the patios are naturally cool places. Compare: hace fresco (the weather) vs son frescos (the place).
Learn when to use ser vs estar.
Impersonal se
se celebra el Festival de los Patios
se celebra el Festival de los Patios
Se + verb in third person = impersonal construction. Se celebra means "is celebrated" without saying who does it.
Impersonal pronoun se for general statements.
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