Mezquita in Cordoba

Our final day in Cordoba and we spent most of the day gaping at the thing that brought us to Southern Spain in the first place. The Mezquita. According to the blurb in the publicity brochure it started out as a church and then in the year 785, the construction of a Mosque was started. After several additions to the original Mosque it was reconsecrated and rebuilt as a Cathedral in 1236. Many of the original features still remain but many were also destroyed. This is part of the Mosque that has been left.

And here are some of the decorative arches and pillars.

This is part of the original wooden ceiling.

Outside the main building is a courtyard with orange trees and a fountain where the worshipers used to wash before entering for prayer. In southern Spain the courtyards and many of the lane ways and plazas are paved with river pebbles placed on their edge and in decorative patterns. There is also a system of channels linked to one another so all the trees can be watered at once.

On our way back for Frank's siesta, we walked through this plaza which has arcades all around it.

Reluctantly we leave Cordoba tomorrow to see what Madrid has in store for us!