Mezquita - Great Mosque of Cordoba - Spain

The Mezquita of Cordoba is the world's third largest Mosque and along with Granada's Alhambra Palace is the finest example of Islamic Art in the Western world.

It dates back to 785 when Abd ar-Rahhman I founded the Mezquita on the site of an ancient Visigothic church which had originally been the site of a Roman temple.

The Caliph of Cordoba actually bought the land for the Mezquita from the Christian community. Previous to this both faiths had shared the building.

Abd-ar-Rahman II (822-52) greatly extended the building during the 9th century and under Abd-ar-Rahman III (912-61) Cordoba became the largest and most prosperous city in Europe. Development of the Mezquita continued under his son Al-Hakim II (961-76) who doubled its size and employed Byzantine craftsmen who built a new Mihrab which still stands today. The final enlargement came under Al-Mansour (977-1002).

In all it took some two centuries to complete the building and the Great Mosque which became the main place of worship in Cordoba, a city of over 100,000 people and 500 mosques. Córdoba was captured by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236 and a Christian church was built within the walls of the Great Mosque.

For nine centuries the Mezquita has now been a Christian cathedral yet there is no mistaking its Moorish history. Take a look at the Mezquita tour plan page.