The Mezquita, Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba

The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, also called
the Mezquita and the Great Mosque of Cordoba,
is a medieval Islamic mosque? that was converted
into a Catholic Christian cathedral in the
Spanish city of Cordoba, Andalusia. The mosque
is regarded as the one of the most accomplished
monuments of Moorish architecture.
The biggest attraction in Cordoba and a truly
must-see building, the Mezquita is a massive
former mosque-turned-cathedral famed for its
"forest" of columns topped with Islamic-style
red and white striped arches among its other
many architectural highlights and serves as
a reminder of the glory and importance Cordoba
held in medieval times. The building is full
of history and beauty - you'll want to give
yourself at least a couple of hours to do
it justice.
Built in 786 as a mosque, the structure was
expanded several times under Cordoba's Muslim
rule while still remaining largely true to
the original design. Following the Christian
Reconquista of Cordoba in 1236, work immediately
went underway to convert the building to a
church, and four centuries later a cathedral
at the center of the building was constructed,
though not without controversy as it significantly
altered the space. Today, despite the presence
of the cathedral, most of the original mosque
structure remains remarkably well-preserved.

Approaching the Mezquita, the first thing
you will notice is the massive bell tower
on the building's north side which looms over
the surrounding buildings. Built in the 1600s
the tower replaced a minaret previously on
the site. Along the outside of the building
the wall takes on the appearance of a fortress,
with an elaborate set of Moorish-style archway
and windows spaced every so often.