The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba was designated as World Heritage in 1984 after being considered the most important monument of the entire Islamic Westand a fundamental trace of the different cultures that have passed through it, in addition to being a palimpsest of various artistic styles that make this building somethingunique in the History of Universal Art.
At first, around the 6th century AD, the Visigoths built a Christian basilica dedicated to Saint Vincent on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, a temple that with the arrival of the Muslims two hundred years later was transformed into in the impressive aljama mosque of the city built on most of the site of the old basilica. Four centuries later, when King Ferdinand III conquered The city of Córdoba in the year 1236 became to convert into a Christian cathedral, a function that it continues to perform today.
Traditionally, the mosque of Córdoba has been interpreted as an enclosure composed of three different spaces: a porticoed courtyard with fountains where ablutions were performed Before entering the temple, a high minaret from which the muezzin called the faithful to prayer five times a day and an immense prayer room strong> decorated with the sea of bicolor arches that has becomethe iconic image of the temple, where the faithful followers of Muhammad recited the Koran and performed their liturgies.
The prayer room, in turn, is divided into five areas according to the extensions that have been made carried out in the oratory throughout history. The first project was carried out by Abderramán I building eleven naves facing south and reusing some Roman and Visigoth architectural remains. The second extension was carried out by Abderramán ;n IIwhich added eight ships and built a new qibla wall. The third modification ran by Abderramán III lengthening the patio and the minaret. The fourth and most significant change was made by the caliph Al Hakem II by building twelve more sections, introducing new ornamental motifs and creating the maqsura, the preferred place where the imam or the caliph stands during religious ceremonies. Finally, the fifth and last modification was carried out by General Almanzor, raising eight more ships but with a different orientation since Towards the south there was no more construction space.Later, after the conversion of the mosque into a cathedral in the 13th century they were ;adding a series funerary chapels that modified the structure of the complex. One of the most significant was the Royal Chapell erected at the beginning of the 14th century where you can contemplate a beautiful architectural synthesis of the influences Almohads and Nasrids in the mural plasterwork and in the vault covered by colorful muqarnas. A century later, the Catholic Monarchs ordered the construction of the Main Chapel next to the skylight of Alhakén II and his grandson, the great Emperor Charles V,commissioned the project of building the current Cathedral to the architect Hernán Ruiz, a work that will not be completed until two centuries later.
November to February:
Monday to Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
March to October:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Other nearby points of interest are the Royal Alcázar, the Royal Cavalry and the Roman Bridge. p>