The Great Mosque Of Cordoba

October 22, 2021

The Great Mosque of Cordoba was built 175 years after Islam began, making this one of the first mosques in the world. The Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is a monument that showcases the religious metamorphose of Spain from the day people started populating the area of Cordoba in 784 AD.

Also known as the Mezquita, the Cordoba mosque is the main attraction to visit when you find yourself close to the city of Cordoba. It took 200 years to complete the mosque, and upon seeing its attention to detail, structure, and design, we can understand why it took so long – it’s a truly astonishing sight!

The Mosque Of Cordoba


The Andalusia region in the south of Spain has been known as the muslim capital region for many years. In Cordoba, this magnificent sight forms an unforgettable part of religious history.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba first served as a temple built by the Romans. The Visigoths took over and converted it to a Catholic church, and last but not least, Abd al-Rahman I turned it into an Islamic mosque in 784 AD.

Tip: If you want to learn and explore the mosque fully, a guided tour is always a great idea.

Mosque–Cathedral Of Córdoba: Construction And Architecture


Get ready, because it’s time for a little architecture history lesson. Over the course of 200 years, the structure of this magnificent building was modified and revamped numerous times. By the time it was completed, it was the second biggest, and one of the most innovative mosques in the world.

All around the exterior of the mosque you’ll see massive, intensely-decorated doors. When Cordoba returned to Christian rule in 1236 AD, the mosque got converted into a Catholic cathedral and a lot of the outer doors were sealed.

Centuries ago, when the Moors were still occupying the mezquita, the open doors let in a lot of light which brightened the structure. A warm atmosphere would happily welcome visitors in. The mosque, however, was transformed into the Cordoba cathedral during the 14th century and big structural changes were made.

A third of the pillars were removed to make space for a courtyard. The myriad of arches of the Cordoba,Spain mosque wasn’t merely for holding the structure in place, a big part of it was actually for decorative purposes. The building was transformed again under Christian rule. The arches in the center of the mosque were altered, the ceiling was raised and nowadays it forms the heart of the cathedral.

With its exquisite detail, vaulted ceiling, and repeating red-and-white arches, the design elements are in complete harmony with each other. Some might even call this mosque in Cordoba an architectural masterpiece – and we agree!

It’s the rich religious history of this structure that really gripped us. Transforming an existing building to fit the needs of its several religious predecessors is truly fascinating. Architect and history lovers here’s a tip for you: If you find yourself in the Andalusia region, add the magical mosque-cathedral of Córdoba to your list, we promise you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the most impressive monuments in Spain, and well worth it!

 

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