Córdoba is a quaint town that is a must-see and perfect day trip destination for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Andalusia and is looking for something extra special. It is one of those utterly picturesque places that feel as though one is in an entirely different world; all lush vegetation, great open piazzas, big old bridges, flowers tumbling over cast iron balconies, little winding streets lined by cast iron lamps, Moorish architectural influences, great fountains and water features, a medieval core, and more modern parts of the city. However, amongst all the lovely restaurants, places to wander with loved ones and take in your lovely surroundings, pretty views, cute shops, and much more to see and do besides, the most famous and important attraction, by far, has to be the Mezquita-Catedral, or the Great Mosque of Córdoba.
The UNESCO-awarded Great Mosque is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time that Spain was part of Islamic-ruled Al-Andalus – the Muslim Iberia that included Spain, Portugal, and a small part of Southern France and which existed up until the late 8th century – and is the city's most famous building. It is thought to have been built on the site of a former temple to the Roman god Janus and it was later made into a church by the Visigoths who took the city in 572 before being rebuilt and converted into a mosque by the Umayyads, who were an exiled Islamic dynasty who had once ruled in present-day Syria.
The UNESCO-awarded Great Mosque is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time that Spain was part of Islamic-ruled Al-Andalus – the Muslim Iberia that included Spain, Portugal, and a small part of Southern France and which existed up until the late 8th century – and is the city's most famous building. It is thought to have been built on the site of a former temple to the Roman god Janus and it was later made into a church by the Visigoths who took the city in 572 before being rebuilt and converted into a mosque by the Umayyads, who were an exiled Islamic dynasty who had once ruled in present-day Syria.
Under Prince Abd al-Rahman I, elaborate building schemes to evoke the grandeur of their former home were undertaken and the mosque was expanded over the course of two hundred years to create the incredible and colossal complex that one sees today. It is comprised of a large hypostyle prayer hall, a courtyard with a fountain in the middle, an orange grove, minaret, the beautiful horseshoe arched mihrab (used in a mosque to identify the wall that faces Mecca, the direction for daily prayers), and a truly dazzling and lavishly ornate gold mosaic dome.
In 1236, Córdoba was recaptured by the Christians and subsequent Christian monarchs altered and added to the building. A hybrid was born with the addition of the mid-13th century Villaviciosa and Royal Chapels under King Alfonso X and the Renaissance nave placed right in the middle of the mezquit in the 16th century by Charles V.
In 1236, Córdoba was recaptured by the Christians and subsequent Christian monarchs altered and added to the building. A hybrid was born with the addition of the mid-13th century Villaviciosa and Royal Chapels under King Alfonso X and the Renaissance nave placed right in the middle of the mezquit in the 16th century by Charles V.
Today, the most famous and most-photographed part of the building is the massive main hall with its iconic 850 double-arched columns that support the structure and are seemingly endless, creating a rather mesmerising effect and unique architectural gem that is a must-see for anyone exploring this part of Spain...
Great Mosque of Córdoba
Calle Cardenal Herrero, 1, 14003 Córdoba, Spain
+34 957 47 05 12
Opening Hours:
Daily, 10am to 7pm
Tickets:
Full price - €10
Reduced price (for children aged 10-14 and the disabled) - €5
Free for children under 10, residents, and those born in the city.
Great Mosque of Córdoba
Calle Cardenal Herrero, 1, 14003 Córdoba, Spain
+34 957 47 05 12
Opening Hours:
Daily, 10am to 7pm
Tickets:
Full price - €10
Reduced price (for children aged 10-14 and the disabled) - €5
Free for children under 10, residents, and those born in the city.
