The Cordoba Mosque - History
by Lawrence Boheme
The most striking thing about the Mezquita is that, incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church (Cordoba's cathedral). What one sees from outside is confusing indeed: a huge, flat-roofed low-lying square building with a gigantic baroque church jutting up in the middle like a rather unsightly stone wedding-cake.
But before joining the politically-correct chorus which loves to bemoan this Christian crime against Moorish art (which, undoubtedly, it is), consider the chequered and equally "criminal" past of this sacred site from the very beginning. It will also give you an idea of Cordoba's key role in Spanish history.
First, the Romans built a pagan temple on the site. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the new Germanic masters of Spain (the Visigoths) replaced it with the Christian church of Saint Vincent. When the Arabs conquered the peninsula in the early 8th century, they tore down the church and began building their great mosque, which - commensurate with Cordoba's importance as the centre of Muslim power in Spain - became the largest mosque in all of Islam after that of Caaba, in Arabia.
When the Christians re-conquered Cordoba in 1236, they did with the mosque what they did in all of the cities of Andalucia - instead of bothering to build a new church, they simply "converted" the building to Christianity and set up an altar in the middle. In the 16th century, this modest gothic insert was enlarged and given its current Renaissance - and later, baroque - styles, resulting in the strange hybrid which we now see, with its ornately carved altar and pews (the choir is distinguished by the fact that it was built entirely in mahogany brought from America).
Guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
Book guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
45
EUR
Start your journey in the historic Jewish Quarter, a labyrinth of streets where you'll explore the history and culture of Córdoba. You'll learn about the life of the Jewish community that inhabited this area between the 13th and 14th centuries while admiring its unique architecture.
35
EUR
Go on a historical guided tour in Córdoba. The exploration begins in the renowned Jewish Quarter, home to the Synagogue, the municipal artisans' market, and the monument to Maimonides.
29
EUR
Visit the iconic monument of Córdoba, the Mosque-Cathedral, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This guided tour, led by a seasoned historian, invites you to explore a living temple that has witnessed countless historical events and promises to leave an unforgettable impression.
12
EUR
Discover the most emblematic monument of Al-Andalus on a tour of the extraordinary Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.
32
EUR
An essential visit to get to know Córdoba, its history and its most beautiful corners: monument to Maimonides, Jewish Street and its Synagogue (closed Monday), Souk of the Artisans and ending in the spectacular Mosque-Cathedral, where an experienced official guide will enter you the primitive Umayyad mosque of Abderramán I and its successive extens
24
EUR
The guided tour is an exciting vision of the monument and place from a more internal point of view, which now take a new dimension with Amedina Córdoba.
27
EUR
The city of Córdoba is packed with culture, and you'll find plenty of it at the Mosque-Cathedral – one of Spain's most prominent monuments.
Join your guide for a tour and discover the humble history of this former Islamic place of worship. See the varying architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque.
Private Guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
Book private guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
95
EUR
The best way of getting to know any city is by the hand of a private guide. Let us show you every little corner of this very unique place and talk to you about the history of the Mosque-Cathedral and the city.
122
EUR
Cordoba is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Europe. The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is something you have to visit at least once in your life, and there is no better way than with a private tour so you can know every secret of this place. After the tour of the Mosque, you can't leave Cordoba without visiting the Jewish quarter.
220
EUR
A visit to Córdoba accompanied by a specialist guide in History. We will discover the main monuments of the city: the Mosque, the Alcazar, the Roman Bridge. Our guide will take you to the most secret corners of the Jewish quarter and will tell you stories about its most famous characters such as Maimonides, Seneca.
125
EUR
Our visit to the Mosque-Cathedral is a perfect first contact with the city of Córdoba. In a chronological tour of the interior of the Temple, we will reveal the most important aspects of its history, and of the city that welcomes it.
122
EUR
Guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Alcazar and Synagogue in private with Official guides accredited by the Andalusian Government to enjoy this magnificent World Heritage SiteThe guided visit to the Mosque-Cathedral in private is as enjoyable as possible within the documentary and historical rigor to help them interpret and discove
325
EUR
Join all the best in one tour! See most interesting places of old Cordoba and real treasure Mosque-Cathedral
The original mosque was permeated all around with open arches, so that the sunlight could flood in, leading the worshipper to the shadows of the central area, to represent his mystical journey towards Allah; but the Christians, being less inclined towards letting in the natural elements, plugged up most of the openings so that they could be used as a backdrop for chapels dedicated to the various saints. The minaret was left standing in the middle of the west wall, but did not fare as well as Seville's Giralda, which was simply capped with a bell-tower: it was used as the central core of a new baroque sheath (as you climb up inside it, you see the sealed-up arches and windows of the Moorish original- a tower within a tower).
As in Seville, the Patio de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Orange Trees) has survived, and it was here that the worshippers washed at the fountain before entering the mosque. But all the other mosque-churches which were created in Andalucia - including the cathedrals of Seville and Granada - were eventually torn down in the baroque period to make way for "real" churches. The Cordoba contraption was only spared because the people of the city, even in those intolerant times, were aware of its special grandeur and beauty. An indication of this grass-roots affection for the great edifice is still alive today: the people of Cordoba do not say "I went to Mass at the Cathedral", but "I went to Mass at the Mosque". It is a contradiction which could only seem "natural" in Spain.
The mosque was begun at the end of the 8th century and completed 200 years later, in four distinct phases, the last and largest of which (the north side) was carried out by the legendary military leader Al-Mansur. This means that the original 8th century building was only about 20% of its current size. Embedded in the inner side of the eastern wall (the one closest to the river) is a sort of octagonal chapel surrounded with high, arched windows, and richly adorned with mosaics: this is the mihrab, a key element in all mosques which indicated the direction of Mecca.
The most distinctive feature of the Mezquita is the forest of columns which supports the roof, but they, like so many other things, were taken from somewhere else - in this case, from the Church of Saint Vincent which had previously occupied the site; others came from Roman and Visigothic homes in the city, and when these ran out, the Arabs made their own. But the columns were for the most part only seven or eight feet high, which meant that the huge ceiling would be aesthetically too low. So the Moors brilliantly invented a double-tiered column-and-arch construction, which made it possible to increase the height of the central parts of the temple without cutting off the daylight.
| Hotel Conquistador opposite the Mosque - Cathedral |
Cordoba´s Mezquita, once the largest mosque in the world, is the most well-known and outstanding monument in Cordoba. In order to truly experience the mezquita and its surroundings, we think that… More →
| Incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church © Michelle Chaplow |
The most striking thing about the Mezquita is that, incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church (Cordoba's cathedral). What one sees from outside is confusing indeed: a huge, flat-… More →
| Cordoba Mosque Cathedral Bell © Michelle Chaplow |
Before the 18th century's "enlightened" philosophers existed, with their humanistic ideas, there was no ideological precedent which made a virtue of tolerance and respect for other beliefs than… More →
Guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
Book guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
45
EUR
Start your journey in the historic Jewish Quarter, a labyrinth of streets where you'll explore the history and culture of Córdoba. You'll learn about the life of the Jewish community that inhabited this area between the 13th and 14th centuries while admiring its unique architecture.
35
EUR
Go on a historical guided tour in Córdoba. The exploration begins in the renowned Jewish Quarter, home to the Synagogue, the municipal artisans' market, and the monument to Maimonides.
29
EUR
Visit the iconic monument of Córdoba, the Mosque-Cathedral, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This guided tour, led by a seasoned historian, invites you to explore a living temple that has witnessed countless historical events and promises to leave an unforgettable impression.
12
EUR
Discover the most emblematic monument of Al-Andalus on a tour of the extraordinary Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.
32
EUR
An essential visit to get to know Córdoba, its history and its most beautiful corners: monument to Maimonides, Jewish Street and its Synagogue (closed Monday), Souk of the Artisans and ending in the spectacular Mosque-Cathedral, where an experienced official guide will enter you the primitive Umayyad mosque of Abderramán I and its successive extens
24
EUR
The guided tour is an exciting vision of the monument and place from a more internal point of view, which now take a new dimension with Amedina Córdoba.
27
EUR
The city of Córdoba is packed with culture, and you'll find plenty of it at the Mosque-Cathedral – one of Spain's most prominent monuments.
Join your guide for a tour and discover the humble history of this former Islamic place of worship. See the varying architectural styles, ranging from Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque.
Private Guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
Book private guided tours in Mosque / Cathedral of Córdoba city
95
EUR
The best way of getting to know any city is by the hand of a private guide. Let us show you every little corner of this very unique place and talk to you about the history of the Mosque-Cathedral and the city.
122
EUR
Cordoba is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Europe. The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is something you have to visit at least once in your life, and there is no better way than with a private tour so you can know every secret of this place. After the tour of the Mosque, you can't leave Cordoba without visiting the Jewish quarter.
220
EUR
A visit to Córdoba accompanied by a specialist guide in History. We will discover the main monuments of the city: the Mosque, the Alcazar, the Roman Bridge. Our guide will take you to the most secret corners of the Jewish quarter and will tell you stories about its most famous characters such as Maimonides, Seneca.
125
EUR
Our visit to the Mosque-Cathedral is a perfect first contact with the city of Córdoba. In a chronological tour of the interior of the Temple, we will reveal the most important aspects of its history, and of the city that welcomes it.
122
EUR
Guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Alcazar and Synagogue in private with Official guides accredited by the Andalusian Government to enjoy this magnificent World Heritage SiteThe guided visit to the Mosque-Cathedral in private is as enjoyable as possible within the documentary and historical rigor to help them interpret and discove
325
EUR
Join all the best in one tour! See most interesting places of old Cordoba and real treasure Mosque-Cathedral
![Incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church © Michelle Chaplow](/sites/default/files/collage-Cordoba-Mosque_800px-Michelle_chaplow.jpg "Incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church © Michelle Chaplow")
