Cordoba is third biggest and populated city of Andalusia, overshadowed only by Seville and Malaga. Today it is a city of a moderate size; nevertheless, the old town contains architectural memories according to a time when Cordova was the capital city of the Baetic province during the Roman Empire and the Caliphate of Cordova period which took place during the Moslem invasion, which governed a big part of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Mosque of Cordoba
It was an Arab mosque during the caliphate of the Omeyas and turned into the current cathedral of the city in the 13th century. It began to be built during the 8th century on the site of the Visigode basilica of San Vicente, by the commission of the caliph Abderramán I. During history, it suffered several enlargements by later caliphs up to culminating in the 12th century by Almanzor. It was the most extensive and important after the Mecca. In the interior, we can see some beautiful arches weakened on 1300 columns made of marble, granite and jasper, the treasure of the Cathedral or the famous courtyard of the orange trees within.
Medina Azahara
It is located in the surroundings of the capital of Cordoba. It was built by Abderramán III in 936 AD, according to the tradition, to honour his love for a woman of his harem, and according to the history for showing off the power of his caliphate. At present only a 13 % of the city has been excavated and when visitors contemplate it, they can go so far as to imagine the stateliness of which, one day in history, was the place of the caliphs court. We can see the Salón Rico (Rich Room), a place where interviews with the embassies took place, the great Aljama Mosque or its wall and north door. For visiting this place, comfortable clothes and footwear are recommended.
The Palace of the Christian Kings
This fortress is a building having a military character which was built by the commission of King Alfonso XI of Castile in 1328. Within this place, the Catholic kings prepared during eight years the siege to the Kingdom of Granada met with Columbus for the first time and witnessed the birth of the Infanta Doña Maria who was, in the end, a queen of Portugal. Later the church turned it into a venue of the court belonging to the Inquisition. The palace has beautiful gardens full of vegetation, flowers and ponds where the visitor can take beautiful photographic memories.
This article was provided by Beverly Dearden who has lived and worked on the Costa Blanca for 20 years where she runs an estate agency. When she has free time, Beverly loves to visit other towns and cities in her adopted country and write about her experiences. If you are looking for a Costa Blanca property, your property search stops here.
