Which medieval Islamic palace city near Córdoba was founded by Abd-ar-Rahman III in 936?

Medina Azahara, the medieval Islamic palace city near Córdoba, was founded by Abd-ar-Rahman III in 936.

The Umayyad caliph established the complex on the foothills outside Córdoba as a political and ceremonial center for the Caliphate of Córdoba. It included palaces, administrative buildings, gardens, residences, and infrastructure arranged across terraces. Its Arabic name, Madinat al-Zahra, is commonly rendered in Spanish as Medina Azahara.

The city was damaged and abandoned during the civil conflict of the early eleventh century. Centuries later, its ruins were mistaken for other ancient sites before systematic archaeological work identified the complex. Medina Azahara is separate from the Alhambra, which is in Granada and belongs mainly to the later Nasrid period. Excavated decorations include carved stonework, marble, and elaborate architectural ornament.