Córdoba Mezquita
The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, known as the Cordoba Mezquita, is a wonderful homage to the Andalusian civilization of two religions - Islam and Christianity. On top of one of the most important mosques in the Islamic Empire sits a renaissance church, making this building a unique destination for all visitors to Córdoba.
Originally the site of a Roman temple, it was subsequently replaced by a Visigoth Christian church. The Visigoths split into two in 711 when the Moors seized Andalusia from Christians, and the church was used by both Muslims and Christians as a place of prayer. In 784, the church was demolished by the orders of Emir Abd al-Rahman, and a large mosque was built in its place. Construction lasted for two centuries, and it was the largest mosque at the time. Christians seized Córdoba in 1236, King Alfonso X in the 13th century and later Henry II in the 14th century ordered its reconstruction into a church once more. Charles V later added the Renaissance nave at the heart of the Mezquite, resulting in the hybrid structure and architectural masterpiece it is today.
