Religious Unity in Cordoba

As part of our first day in Cordoba we visited the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and I seriously cannot even begin to describe its beauty. A beauty that is not only defined by it’s architecture but also by the unity of religion created within.
In a world where so many countries have experienced or are experiencing religious warfare this cathedral bears witness to the fact that regardless of your religion (or in my case lack of religion) you can exist alongside each other in harmony.

The Visigoth Basilica of San Vicente, built in the mid sixth century became the city’s main Christian temple. With the arrival of the Muslims the area was divided and used by both communities.
Abd-al-Rahman, in response to the growing population, built the first Mosque between 786-788 with eleven naves which stand perpendicular to the qibla wall. The qibla wall is the wall in a mosque that faces Mecca. The mihrab is a niche in the qibla wall indicating the direction of Mecca; because of its importance, it is usually the most ornate part of a mosque, highly decorated and often embellished with inscriptions from the Qur’an. Unlike other Muslim places of worship, the qibla wall here is not pointing towards Mecca but instead faces south.
His successor then enlarged the Mosque further in 833-848 before Abd al-Rahman III constructed a new minaret in 951. A second enlargement took place in 962-966 before the final enlargement in 991.

With the conquest of Cordoba in 1236 the building was consecrated as a Catholic Church and in 1489 a new Main Chapel was constructed and a transept was created in 1607. From the outside the transept’s brickwork gives the building a vertical appearance which contrasts with the horizontal impression provided by the mosque.

The narrative provided by the Mosque-Cathedral states “this is one of the most exceptional monuments in the world, a testimony to the ancient alliance of art and faith. Its islamic architecture, with Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine touches, comes together with Christian architecture to create one of the most beautiful examples of its kind. Inside among an impressive array of columns, arches and domes, we come across splendid works of art which bear witness to the passage of centuries.”

I cannot write anything better than this, this is such a great summation of this awe inspiring monument to religion. Christians have held mass every single day here since 1236. No one has altered the original Muslim decoration or structure. They have just existed peacefully side by side.

There is a fee to enter ( tickets can be purchased on line or across the courtyard from the main entrance) and an audio guide is also available. But let me suggest something in advance of your visit.
Leave the audioguide alone and enter this sacred place with an open mind, let the atmosphere draw you in, let the sheer beauty of the architecture awake your senses and let the peace and tranquillity surround your soul. If you allow this Mosque-Cathedral to envelope you, believe me you will leave this place with a feeling of a greater sense of harmony and an aura of peace.

This my second post of a series of three about Cordoba as part of our tour of Western Europe. Want to know more about this fascinating city? Why not check out the other two posts?