Thinking to Cordoba is like thinking to a miracle: birth place of the Roman
philosopher Seneca, capital of the Moorish kingdom of Spain (al-Andalus) on the
tenth century, Jewish, Arabic and Christian cultures managed to co-exist
peacefully here for a short while and contributed to an enormous advance in
science and philosophy.
Cordoba is located on a plateau next to the Guadalquivir river (from Arabic Wadi
al-Kabir) which in Islamic times was navigable from the sea.
Under the Umayyad dynasty the world famous Great Mosque of Cordoba (known in
Spanish as ‘La Mezquita’) was laid out next to the river. At that
time Cordoba was famous as the wealthiest city in Europe with paved streets
illuminated by street lighting. Some of the atmosphere of the medieval Islamic
city can still be recalled in the Jewish quarter to the north of the Great
Mosque next to the Umayyad city walls. The bridge known as the Puente Romano was
rebuilt in 720 and is 250 m long and rests on sixteen arches.
Spain, Cordoba: the Mezquita
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Mezquita - (Umayyad mosque) The Great
Mosque of Cordoba was considered a wonder of the medieval world by both
Muslims and Christians.
Laid out in 786 a.d. the most remarkable feature of the Great Mosque are the
two-tier free-standing horseshoe arches resting on columns with alternating red
and white voussoirs. This unusual solution has a striking visual effect combined
with the practical advantage of providing greater height within the hall. The
use of alternating red and white voussoirs manages to create a stunningly
original visual composition, strengthen by the numerous later additions that
maintained the original basic formula.
The resulting vistas of columns and arcades that stretch into the dim recesses
of the prayer hall create a mysterious space that is often described as a forest
of stone. The comparison is heightened by rows of trees planted in the courtyard
(Patio de las Naranjas or Court of the Oranges), creating a
visual continuation of the rows of columns within the prayer hall.
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Spain, Cordoba: the Mezquita
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The most lavish interior ornament is concentrated in the maqsura, the
prayer space reserved for the ruler. The maqsura is visually separated from the
rest of the prayer hall by elaborate intersecting polylobed horseshoe arches, it
is decorated with carved marble, stucco, elaborate mosaics, and Kufic
inscriptions. The mihrab is an entire room, rather than the traditional niche,
with a massive ribbed dome supported on flying arches. The interior of the dome
is decorated with polychrome gold and glass mosaics of Byzantine flavour.
In the early 16th century the local Bishop proposed to demolish the mosque in
order to build a new cathedral. The opposition of the townspeople led to the
singular decision to insert an entire Gothic "chapel" into the very
heart of the Great Mosque. So that today, unfortunately, the appearance of the
mosque is ruined by this dull cathedral built in the in the very middle of the
sanctuary.
The minaret of the Great Mosque is now encased within the belfry of the
cathedral.
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