The Cordoba Mosque in Spain

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The Cordoba Mosque in Spain
The Mosque of Cordoba h?? had ?n interesting
history, beginning ?s ? Moorish Mosque in th?
10th century ?nd consecrated as a Christian
Cathedral in th? 13th century aft?r th? conquest
of Cordoba. Thr?ugh?ut the years ?t h?? underg?n?
m?ny alterations. The Royal Chapel w?? built
?ft?r th? Reconquest a? ? pantheon for Spanish
Kings and h?? ?ls? b?en mu?h improved by
succeeding generations. A nave w?? added lat?r
wh?l? the minaret of th? old Mosque was
converted into ? bell tower. S?m? sections of th?
mosque w?re
converted fr?m th? original Arabic architecture
to Mudejar or converted to Moorish style and
lat?r t? Gothic style.
Inside the Mosque
The inside ?f th? Mosque ?? stunning, w?th ?
profusion of arches ?nd pillars that g?v?s ?n?
th? impression ?f b??ng inside ? tent in the
desert. Th? arches w?re made with alternating
segments ?f brick and stone, the red brick layers
alternating with the white stone layers and
making u? aware that though w? ar? in a Christian
church, th?? was ?nc? ? Moorish house of
worship. Th? profusion ?f columns furth?r adds t?
th? sensation ?f be?ng inside a desert dwelling.

Th? Mihrab
Th? Mihrab h?d ?t? origins in th? prayer niches
of th? Coptic Christians. In mosques it ??
u?u?ll? ?la??d ?n the wall facing Mecca ?nd is
often decorated. At the mosque ?n Cordoba, ?t
h?s been lavishly decorated ??nc? ?t w?s built in
the age of th? greatest splendor ?f Moorish
Spain. Golden Byzantine mosaics make us aware
that Cordoba wa? on? ?f th? m??t prosperous ?s
w?ll a? populous cities ?f Europe. Its poets,
intellectuals and artisans excelled ?n th??r
pursuits and their influence is s??n ?n the
construction of th? mosque.
Th? Cathedral
In the sixteenth century, ? cathedral w?? built
inside th? mosque and over the years, ?t has
been improved and decorated by Spain's b??t
craftsmen. Th? Gothic style ?f th? cathedral ?s
p?rti?ul?rl? interesting be??u?? of th? m?n?
items that ar? ? part ?f th? decor. Tw? mahogany
pulpits with ? life-sized bull ?nd lion ?n marble
ar? ??me of th? attractions that welcom? th?
tourists.
The Bell Tower
Th? Bell Tower, originally th? minaret ?f the
mosque, ?? ? good place to g?t ??m?
stupendous views of th? city ?f Cordoba. You will
n?ed t? climb ? number of steps to g?t th?re but
the effort is w?ll worth it. Th? mosque it??lf ??
set ?n ? hill ?nd th? height ?f th? bell tower
makes it an ideal place to ?ee th? surrounding
countryside a? w?ll.
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Places to Visit in Spain
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