They were originally built to provide a place of relief and shelter from the intense summer heat, but over time they evolved into miniature oases, filled with bright flowers, tropical plants, delicate water features, comfortable furniture and eclectic decoration.The central element of the patios however, are the hundreds of plants and flowers which create blankets of colour on every wall and corner of the patios and the homes to which they are connected.The majority of the patios are connected to private homes and so the patios are lived in, loved and enjoyed all year round by their owners. Of course, hundreds of plants and flowers require many hours of care and behind these spectacular patios are their hardworking owners, who devote hours to the upkeep and maintenance of their beautiful patios.The owners dedication to the patios comes from their passion, enjoyment and love for plants and flowers. Although the Cordoba Patios Festival only last two weeks, the patios are maintained all year round and so for the owners, the work never ends. They generously open up their patios for the duration of the festival so that visitors from all over the world can experience and enjoy the beauty inside.