We awoke to beautiful, clear, blue skies in Cordoba and above freezing temperatures, so we were excited to get out and explore this city. Cordoba is a very old city, with Roman origins in the 2nd century BCE, becoming one of the largest and most cultured cities in Europe around 1000 CE, and with an impressive period of peaceful coexistence of Christianity, Muslim, and Judaism. It is incredibly charming with its narrow, cobblestone streets, white buildings with splashes of colors, and beautiful doors. We had a great time walking around the city, exploring little niches, running into Roman ruins, Jewish synagogue, leather crafters, an instrument maker, enjoying delicious food, and we topped the day off with a visit to the Cordoba Royal Stables for an Andalusian horse show. The next day we visited La Mezquita, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Muslim mosque that later had a Christian church built inside. It was incredible!
Street with our little AirBnB.
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Door to our AirBnB...it is surprising the worlds these little doors open up onto.
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St. Augustine's Cathedral near our place. Love the patterns made by the stones in the ground. |
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Mid-morning snack of yummy empanadas. | First glimpse of La Mezquita.
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So excited for La Mezquita!
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The tower in the orange garden at La Mezquita. |
Outer wall showing a non-restored section next to a restored section. |
Restored section of the outer wall. |
Details on the restored section of the outer wall. |
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| Arches in La Mezquita. They are not painted, they are different colored stones. |
| La Mezquita was expanded at least 4 times, and the ceilings were different throughout.
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| One of the wooden ceiling details. |
| The arches look like they go on forever in some views. |
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When the Christians finally conquered Cordoba and retook it from the Moors, they built an ornate church right in the middle of this holy building to symbolize their dominance over the Moors.
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Love the photobomber really owning it here.
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Gate to the Roman bridge.
| Heading into the tower on the other side of the bridge. There was a museum inside.
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Surgical tools invented and used by a Muslim surgeon in Cordoba. His medical manuscript was used for training surgeons for centuries.
| A scale model of La Mezquita.
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On top of the Tower.
| View back across the River toward La Mesquita. |
Try getting a good photo of this group, ha!
| Roman ruins in the middle of the city.
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Darrell attempting to hold himself up by hands and feet across the alley.
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Here he goes..... |
...and didn't quite make it. | Our wanders took us by the archaeological museum.
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Cordoba prides itself in decorating the "patios" with flowers and even had contests in the spring for the best decorated patio. |
| So many great doors.... | ...and inner doors... |
...and tiles behind the doors...
| ...and filagree....
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 ...and arches and gates... |  ...and panting and sculptures around doors... |
...and grafitti... |
...and carvings... |
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...and even tiny bathroom doors, ha! |
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