Spain 2023 Córdoba

We had two full days in Córdoba!

When you investigate sites, you invariably see this classic view of the interior of the Mezquita-Catedral, the Mosque-cathedral.

Day 1 - we went to see the ancient synagogue, then to the Mezquita-Catedral (the mosque-cathedral),  finishing with a late lunch at Casa Pepe's. After a little shopping and relaxing at our apartment, we went to the Hotel Hesperia for the evening view!

The synagogue open for visiting was just one small room; to me, its history (see here) is the interesting part.

Ancient Synagogue 

The Mezquita-Catedral began as a mosque in 785 AD. It was converted to a cathedral in 1236. Its Renaissance nave and transept was added in the 16th century.
Inside, we were nearly overwhelmed by all the many arches, paintings, and carvings

The Mihrab - in mosques, this "niche" marks the direction of prayer. In this case, it is an octagonal room covered by a scallop shell dome. The mosaics are in the Byzantine tradition.

The Mihrab is centered between doors to the Treasury and the Sabat (an elevated passageway connecting the mosque to the palace).

More of the many paintings

All those ceilings!

The transept, where all the angles meet!

The choir

Dueling pipe organs (in the choir)

One of the pipe organs, above choir seating

The main altar, with the church transept above

The bell tower from the cathedral courtyard

And from outside

Puerta del Puente, once part of the defensive city walls

The Roman bridge and Calahorra tower from the old town side

The Roman bridge and Calahorra tower, from the rooftop terrace of the Hotel Hesperia (elevator, free, open to visitors even when the restaurant is closed)

Day 2: we toured the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos - the Fortress Palace of the Christian Kings. It's main attractions are the mosaics, gardens, and the tower (which we didn't climb). It dates from Roman times, and the mix of architecture shows its history - Roman, Visigoth, Moors, and the Spanish reconquest.

It turns out that an Alcazaba is a fortress where troops were housed. An Alcázar is a fortress that also housed Someone Of Importance, like a king. Sevilla and Córdoba both have Alcázars (notice the accent...), but Málaga has an Alcazaba.

The mosaics date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

One of the mosaics 

There are 55,000 square meters of garden, in the Arab style - palm, cypress, and orange trees, ponds, and fountains abound.

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There are more photos in my Córdoba 2023 album.

Here is more information on the mosque-cathedral.

You can read more about the Alcázar here and here.