In the territory of one of the oldest cities in Spain - Cordoba is a lot of attractions that are of special cultural and historical value. Since 1984, the historic center of Cordoba has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Mosque in Cordoba
The most famous landmark of Córdoba is the mosque of Mesquite. The Cathedral Mosque in Cordoba is considered to be the oldest of Muslim religious buildings located on the territory of Spain, and one of the largest mosques in the world. The uniqueness of the large mosque in Cordoba is that in it the most bizarre way intertwined the cultures of Christianity and Islam. The construction of the Mesquita began in 600, and according to the initial plan it was to become the Visigoth church, but in the 8th century it was completed as an eastern mosque. In the 13th century after the conquest of Cordoba by Christians, the mosque was replenished with a remarkable structure - the Cathedral of St. Mary. Later, the Spanish monarchs made changes in the structure of the mosque. The whole complex is surrounded by a massive crenellated wall. The central entrance is the Gate of Forgiveness, built in the Mudejar style. The bell tower of the Torre de Alminar, whose height exceeds 60 meters, is crowned by the figure of the Archangel Michael, the celestial defender of Cordoba.
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Cathedral of St. Mary
The building of the cathedral is characterized by luxury finishes. Particularly impressive carved seats of choruses and chairs of mahogany in combination with marble. The throne, made of pink marble, adorns the canvas of the painter Palomino.
Chapter Hall
The Chapter Hall is the treasury of the church. The most valuable exhibits are the silver monstrosity and artfully made statues of saints.
Yard of Orange Trees
From the gates of Forgiveness you find yourself in a cozy courtyard, planted with palm trees and orange trees. Earlier, Islamic prayers took place on the territory of the courtyard.
Prayer hall
The huge hall of the mosque of Mesquita in Cordoba is decorated with 856 columns of jasper, marble and porphyry, connected by arches. The extended colonnade creates a very unusual perspective of space.
Córdoba: The Alcázar
The fortress of Alcázar served as a defensive structure during the Roman Empire. From XIX to XX century, the building was a prison, then it housed military structures and the mayor's office of Cordoba. The Alcazar is a serpentine almost square form of faceted stone in the Gothic style. The main tower of the Alcazar in the old days served as a place for the announcement of royal decrees. The upper floors housed a reception hall and apartments. The highest tower of the structure in the Middle Ages was the place where the public execution of the victims of the Inquisition was conducted. In the round tower for many centuries housed the city archive. The fourth tower of the fortress, unfortunately, has not survived to this day.
Cypress trees, orange and lemon trees grow in the huge garden of the Alcazar. Very beautiful fountains with illumination and neat decorative ponds decorating the landscape.
Now the Alcázar represents the elements of cultural heritage found during archaeological research in Cordoba. Among the exhibits is an ancient Roman sarcophagus (3rd century BC). The Roman era is also represented by a mosaic adorning the walls of the ancient chapel.
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Courtyards of Cordoba
The aesthetic pride of Cordoba is the patios of the houses ( patios ). Every spring, the owners of the buildings open the doors for citizens and tourists so that they can evaluate the design of the courtyards.
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It is difficult to list all the sights of Cordoba. This is the Palace of Viana, and the Roman bridge, and numerous churches, museums. Staying in a city where antiquity and modernity are tied together will allow us to feel the greatness of time and the creative power of man.