Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba – Creative Commons Photograph – Wikipedia

We have clients headed to Spain in a few days, and helping them plan their journey reminded me of our visit to the fabulous Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba. The structure’s ecclesiastical name is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption, and the Spanish call it the Mezquita-cathedral de Córdoba.

When the Muslims conquered Spain in 711, they demolished a Catholic Christian church that was built by the Visigoths and built a grand mosque.  Seven hundred years later, the Spanish Christians drove the Islamic people back out of the Iberian Peninsula in what was called the Reconquista (reconquest).

Rather than demolish the beautiful mosque, the Spanish decided to build a Catholic church right in the center of the mosque, which you can see in the aerial photograph above.

Today, the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see for visitors, and certainly offers travelers a dramatic contrast of architectural styles.

When you enter the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, the first thing to strike your senses are the beautiful arches so typical in Moorish architecture, as you can see in my photograph below.

Click photo for a much larger view. ©2015 – David A. Porter

And then, quite unbelievably, when you step to the center of the structure, you’ll find yourself seemingly transported to a 16th century Renaissance cathedral nave. Check out my photograph below…

Click photo for a much larger view. ©2015 – David A. Porter

Córdoba is a fabulous place to spend a day, and when you do, be certain to leave a few hours to explore the stunningly beautiful Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.

Link: Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba (Wikipedia)

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