Cordoba’s mosque-cathedral (locally known as the Mezquita) is one of the most impressive examples of Muslim architecture in the world. This is one of the reasons why the mosque, along with Cordoba’s historic center, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The massive complex is about the size of 4 football fields. Its roof is held up by a series of double arches made up of its iconic alternating red and white bricks. Those arches are supported by 856 Roman columns shaped from precious stones such as jasper, onyx, marble, granite and porphyry. It’s a site that will take your breath away.
But it’s not just the beauty of the Mezquita that makes it remarkable. It’s the fact that the building tells the story of over 1500 years. What started off as a temple dedicated to the Roman god Janus, later became a Visigoth church in 572 AD. Today, you can still see mosaics from the Visigoths that were unearthed below the foundation of the Mezquita. And the Roman columns? Those were recycled by the Moors as they began work on the mosque.
After the Christians reconquered Spain, the mosque was deemed too beautiful to destroy. It was converted into a church and eventually, an enormous cathedral was built right in the middle! Being surrounded by Muslim architecture and peering into a church, all within the same building, is quite a peculiar experience. But that’s just what the mosque is – a peculiar but beautiful masterpiece that stands testament to 1500 years of human civilization.
The columns of the mosque support the famous alternating red and white brick arches which are said to be inspired by the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The arches are doubled, which at the time was a new building innovation, allowing for higher ceilings to be built. Seeing these endless columns, a visiting Muslim poet once described the mosque as having “countless pillars like rows of palm trees in the oases of Syria.”
Known as the Patio de los Naranjos, this open courtyard is attached to the mosque and surrounded by walls and the bell tower. The patio is where the Muslims would wash as part of their purification ritual before entering the mosque. In the courtyard, there are citrus trees and palms planted in rows mimicking the columns found inside the mosque. The trees were irrigated by channels that were fed by the water cistern. These channels can be seen today, however, they are not the originals.
The Mezquita’s main chapel (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption) is found right in the center of the complex. It features a baroque altarpiece, priceless jewels and a choir carved from mahogany brought from the New World. Next to the altarpiece is another noteworthy item – the statue of St. James the Moore Slayer.
The bell tower was built in the 17th century over what was the mosque’s minaret. If you can climb the 54m (177 ft) to the top, you will be rewarded with some great views of the courtyard and mezquita below. The views of the city aren’t bad either and you can even see the Alcazar at a bit of a distance.
The Mihrab is a prayer niche found in mosques and the one found inside the Mezquita could be the most beautiful in the world. The way it lights up and sparkles is truly impressive. It features verses from the Quran and plant motifs set in a mosaic. This tile work was done by craftsmen sent from Emperor Nicephorus II of the Byzantine Empire.
