Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral Cordoba
Cordoba was the former capital of Moorish Spain, when Ruler Abd ar-Rahman I began the construction of Cordoba’s Great Mosque, La Mezquita, as an alternative to Mecca. It dates back to the 900's and is certainly one of Spain's cultural wonders.
The Cathedral Mosque site is home to around 850 columns, the great hall, and gilded calligraphy.
It is written that the Mezquita contains an original Quran and the bones from the arm of the ancient prophet; it one of the most sanctified places on earth.
Visitors to the Mezquita enter through the Patio de Los Naranjos, a classic Islamic courtyard with orange trees and fountains, used for ritual purification before praying.
Retaken from the Moors in 1236, the Christian Kings added a number of chapels including a new nave built in the 1500s.
The Mosque-Cathedral
The Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral has been a World Heritage site since 1984 and is one of the great wonders of the western Muslim World and has been used as a place of worship by many different divinities over the centuries.
The different architectural styles of the Cathedral are evident throughout. The Omeyan style can be found in different parts of the site as well as Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque influences.
The great Mosque is made up of two distinct areas, the courtyard or Sahn, where the minaret stands which is now encased in the Renaissance Tower, and the prayer hall, or haram.
This is where you will find the forest of red and white arched columns.
The Original Mosque
The original mosque was inspired by the great mosques of Damascus and Jerusalem.
Space is divided into eleven naves perpendicular to the qibla wall and arranged into arches.
The construction and style of the mosque were also influenced by Romanic and Visigoth art.
The Mihrab
Located between the doors of the treasury chamber and the Sabat, this stunning archway entrance was the contribution made by Al-Hakam.
A Mihrab is used in a mosque to identify the direction of the wall that cases Mecca.
The Mihrab at the Mezquita is framed by an es an exquisitely decorated arch.
Above the Mihrab is an equally beautiful dome. It is built with crisscrossing ribs that create pointed arches covered with gold mosaic.
The Main Chapel
The unbelievable complexity of the Mosque-Cathedral is a true testament of Gothic, Renaissance and Mannerism art side by side with its caliphate legacy.
In 1523 architect Hernan Ruiz created the Christian cathedral within the forest of columns showing great sensitivity towards the former Muslim chapel. He was responsible for the Gothic-style vaults and the main Chapel.
The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower stands at 54 metres in height and is still the tallest building in the city of Cordoba.
After the Christian conquest, the former minaret converted into a bell tower that was used until 1589. It was then affected by a large earthquake and a new one was built.
Skip-the-Ticket-Line Mosque-Cathedral Guided Tour
