Cordoba - La Mezquita...

If Granada is the intersection of Muslim and Christian, Cordoba is the intersection of Muslim, Christian and Jewish. A Roman city which became capital of an Islamic caliphate and then a centre of Christian domination, during which time the Jews were expelled or forced to convert. The intertwining of cultural heritages is complex and rich.

In the Mezquita or mosque the clash of religions is graphically evident. The building of the Mezquita began in 785AD, using the pillars from Roman ruins. It was completed in its current form by 987AD at which time Cordoba was one of the largest and most cultured cities in the world. From the 13th century the Christians began to adapt parts of the mosque for their own religious purposes until, in the 1520s, Charles V built a renaissance style cathedral nave in the very centre of La Mezquita. He had the sense to lament when he saw the completed cathedral: "I have destroyed something unique in the world." The Mezquita is another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The contrast in architectural styles is obvious, the Mezquita huge and comparatively low  - a forest of pillars topped with horseshoe arches, the cathedral rising skyward and full of light. Once again, very difficult to convey the size and atmosphere in photographs.

As I wandered around, I wondered how present day Muslims feel as they visit the mosque. They are not permitted to worship there. 

From the bridge it is the cathedral that dominates

The trees in the orange grove reflect the pillars inside

Mezquita resident