Less than an hour’s drive from Córdoba, through the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir, lies the small farming town of Palma del Río and the delightful Monasterio de San Francisco, a 15th century converted monastery, which exudes peace and tranquillity.A wonderful serene atmosphere still prevails in the monastery and original features abound, with its shady cloisters, ecclesiastical courtyards and elegantly laid out gardens.