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Mezquita (La Mezquite) - Mosque
Things to do in Cordoba

The architecture of the Cordoba Mosque tells the history of a fascinating era which is unique. The mosque was built from 780, on the site of the Visigothic church of St-Vincent, and successively extended by the addition of new naves until 987 when it had its current dimensions.
After the reconquest, with the newly regained power in Córdoba, the Christians built a Gothic cathedral in the heart of the mosque.

As for the Christian constructions, having visited the Royal Chapel of Alfonso X, admire the two pulpits by Michel de Verdiguier in the cathedral, the spectacular coro, and the superb Baroque choir stalls by Pedro Duque Cornejo. Not forgetting a monumental altar curtain of the 16C by Enrique Arfe and a splendid Baroque Christ in marble in the Cardinal's chapel.

Outside, notice the minaret by Abd-er-Rahman III which was surrounded by a Baroque tower towards the end of the 16C, the attractive Pardoners gate and, in the north wall the station that contains the Virgin with lanterns, which is a copy of a work by Julio Romero de Torres.
The Cordoba mosque is without doubt a masterpiece of Muslim art. First you will see the Orange Tree Courtyards with its fountains of the era and others in the Mudejar style and the Al-Mansour reservoir from the 10C.

Inside, you will dive into a forest of columns and arches where shadow et light play. You will visit in particular the extension by Al-Hakam II. Admire the pure wonder that is the mihrab, the superb dome which comes before the three domes of the «maksourah».

The Mezquita (Spanish for "Mosque") of Cordoba, Spain is a beautiful and fascinating 8th-century mosque-cathedral combination that symbolizes the many religious changes Cordoba has undergone over the centuries.

Today, the Mezquita is the cathedral of Cordoba (officially the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption) and no longer a mosque, but the vast majority of its architecture owes its origin to the Islamic architects who built it as a mosque in the 8th century.

"Córdoba's mosque is one of the earliest and most transportingly beautiful examples of Spanish Muslim architecture."
– Fodor's Spain

"Well worth diverting from anywhere in Southern Spain to see it."
– TripAdvisor traveler review
 

The arrival of the Moors in the eight century saw the introduction of Islamic architecture in Spain. The style is typified by intricate decorative work, emblematic horseshoe arches, geometric patterns, calligraphy and the extensive use of tiles and mosaic. The graceful style exerted an influence on Spanish architecture right down to the present day. The mosques built by the Moors followed the pattern used in the Prophets house, with an outer courtyard and an covered ambulatory.

The restriction in the Koran prohibiting the depiction of living forms led to the development of exquisite floral patterns and calligraphy. Most Moorish buildings have a plain unadorned exterior with the interior displaying elaborate tiling and murals. Moorish architecture can be split into two periods, the Caliphate and the Maghreb style.

Facade of the Mesquita at Cordoba
The Caliphate Style was brought over to Spain from the Middle East. It was employed during the reign of the Caliphate of Cordoba, which ended in the eleventh century. The outstanding achievement of this period is the gigantic Mezquita (built 785-1000) at Cordoba. The Mezquita, which was one of the largest mosques in the world, was begun under the Umayyd dynasty. The Mezquita follows the traditional plan of a large courtyard with a prayer hall to the southern side. It is noted for the low vaults consisting of seeming endless red and white intersecting double horseshoe arches. The graceful arch stems represent the palms used to hold up the Prophet's prayer tent. The Mezquita was extended on four occasions, with the minaret dating from the tenth century. The central mihrab features rich floral patterns and inscriptions in plaster, marble gold mosaic and glass.



The Giralda minaret
The Maghreb style developed in Morocco and was introduced into Spain in the twelfth century with the arrival of the Almoravids. It is epitomised by the Giralda minaret, which once stood in the Great Mosque of Seville. When it was built the Giralda was the tallest tower in the world. The Giralda is built as two towers, one inside the other, with a ramp built between the two structures which allowed the sultan to ascend on horseback. It was little altered when converted into a church tower, aside from a Baroque bell tower added in the seventeenth century. Also is Seville is the Toro de Oro, once part of the fortifications that protected the city from the besieging Christian armies. The Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza was once the summer residence of the independent Hudid ruler. The building, which is now largely destroyed, is surrounded by a heavily fortified wall with round towers along the length. Inside the carved stucco ornament and the interlacing arches are outstanding.

Gardens at the Alhambra
The remarkable Alhambra at Granada, is the crowning achievement of Moorish architecture. This one time residence of the Nasrid dynasty must rank among the most beautiful buildings in Spain. This lavish fortress palace was built in the fourteenth century, and like most Moorish building shows a relatively plain exterior with heavily fortified walls and square towers, which contrasts with the richly decorated interior. The place complex includes a mosque, numerous courtyards, official and court chambers, baths, and the royal residency.


The Alhambra features stunning ornamental detail
The most celebrated portion of the vast palace complex are a series of rooms which display the varied repertoire of the Moorish style. Here the Lion Court surrounded by an arcade of slender columns supporting horseshoe arches is an architectural jewel. After the reconquista many Moorish buildings were either torn down or adapted to Christian use. In the sixteenth century a large cathedral was built within the Mesquita at Cordoba, and Charles I remodeled part of the Alhambra. After the reconquista many Moorish craftsmen were employed in the construction what became known as the Mudejar style.
 

The site on which the Mezquita stands has long been a sacred space – it was first host to a Roman temple, then a Visigoth cathedral church of St Vincent of Saragossa, then a mosque (the Mezquita). Finally, a Baroque cathedral was added inside the mosque by the Christian conquerors in the early 13th century.

The construction of the Mezquita lasted for over two centuries, starting in 784 AD under the supervision of the emir of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman I. Under Abd ar-Rahman II (822-52), the Mezquita held an original copy of the Koran and an arm bone of the prophet Mohammed, making it a major Muslim pilgrimage site.

The Mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd ar-Rahman III ordered a new minaret, while Al-Hakam II, in 961, enlarged the plan of the building and enriched the mihrab. The last of the reforms, including the completion of the outer naves and orange tree courtyard, were completed by Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir in 987.

When finished, the Mezquita was the most magnificent of the more than 1,000 mosques in Cordoba. But Cordoba was subject to frequent invasion and each conquering wave added their own mark to the architecture.

In 1236, Cordoba was recaptured from the Moors by King Ferdinand III of Castile and rejoined Christendom. The Christians initially left the architecture Mezquita largely undisturbed — they simply consecrated it, dedicated it to the Virgin Mary, and used it as a place of Christian worship.

King Alfonso X oversaw the construction of the Villaviciosa Chapel and the Royal Chapel within the structure of the mosque. The kings who followed added further Christian features: Enrique II rebuilt the chapel in the 14th century; a nave was constructed with the patronage of Carlos V, king of a united Spain.

The heavy, incongruous Baroque cathedral was sanctioned in the very heart of the mosque by Charles V in the 1520s. Artists and architects continued to add to the existing structure until the late 18th century, making the Mezquita an intriguing architectural oddity.

In 1931, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was the first Muslim to pray in the Mezquita since it was closed to Islam. In 1984, the historic center of Cordoba, including the Mezquita, was made a UNESCO World Heritage site.


The Mezquita de Cordoba is most notable for its giant arches and its forest of over 1,000 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, as well as other destroyed Roman buildings. Besides the horseshoe-topped arches, the Mezquita also features richly gilded prayer niches.

Although it does not fit in with the rest of the mosque, the 16th-century Baroque cathedral is impressive in its own right, with an intricately carved ceiling and choir stalls.

Its most interesting feature is the mihrab, a domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics built by Al Hakam II (961-76). It once housed the Koran and relics of Muhammad. In front of the Mihrab is the Maksoureh, a kind of anteroom for the caliph and his court; its mosaics and plasterwork make it a masterpiece of Islamic art.

Outside the Mezquita is the Courtyard of the Orange Trees (Patio de los Naranjos), which in springtime is perfumed with orange blossoms and has a beautiful fountain.

The Torre del Alminar, the minaret once used to summon the faithful to prayer, has a Baroque belfry. Hardy travelers can climb to the top to catch a panoramic view of Córdoba and its surroundings.