Travel: Cordoba, Spain
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Córdoba is a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba.
Cordoba was founded by the Romans as a port city on the Guadalquivir river used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. The Romans constructed the historic bridge crossing the river, now called "El Puente Romano".
Cordoba was at it's apex of importance when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus. During this period of Muslim conquest, work began on the Great Mosque ("Mezquita") which after several centuries of additions and enlargements became one of the largest in all of Islam.
When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new overlords of the city were so astounded by its beauty that they left it there, building their cathedral in the middle of its rows of arches and columns, creating the extraordinary church-mosque that it's known for today.
As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba's treasures include the Alcazar, or Fortress, built by the Christians in 1328; the Calahorra Fort, originally built by the Arabs, which guards the Roman Bridge, on the far side of the river from the Mezquita, and the ancient Jewish Synagogue, now a museum. Cordoba's medieval quarter, once the home of the Jewish community, is called "La Judería" (The Jewry), a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, shady flower-filled courtyards and picturesque squares such as La Plaza del Potro. 
(Notice the Calaharra Fort at the end of the Roman bridge in the centre right of this picture)
ALCAZAR DE LOS REYES CRISTIANOS
The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos or the Alcázar of Córdoba, is a medieval Alcázar located in the historic centre of Córdoba next to the Guadalquivir River and near the Grand Mosque. The Alcázar takes its name from the Arabic word القصر (Al-Qasr, meaning "the Palace"). The fortress served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.
In 1236, the former Caliphal Palace was in a pitiful, ruinous state. Alfonso X «the Wise»
began the restoration work, which was finished off during the reign of Alfonso XI. It has fulfilled many different functions over the years, such as Headquarters of the Inquisition, or a prison (first half of the 20th century).
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella later governed Castile from the Alcázar for eight years in the 15th century as they prepared to reconquer Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.
It was here that Queen Isabella heard Christopher Columbus' pitch before his historic journey to the Americas.
Madinat Al-Zahra
Medina Azahara (Arabic: Madinat Al-Zahra) is the ruins of an expansive Arab Muslim palace-city built by Abd-ar-Rahman III al-Nasir, (912–961) Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba, and located on the western outskirts of Córdoba. It was the capital of al-Andalus, or Muslim Spain, as the heart of the administration and government was within its walls. Construction began in 936-940.
It took Abd al-Rahman twenty-five years to build Madinat al-Zahra. The city existed for merely sixty-five years. For nine centuries it slept, forgotten beneath a hard dirt cover. Following eighty years of restoration work, about only one tenth of the medina has been unearthed.
On the middle terrace, only the mosque has been excavated. The souk was also at this level, together with many gardens with pools, fountains and cages housing wild animals and exotic birds. The lower terrace was devoted to infantry and cavalry housing.
Mezquita de Cordoba
The site on which the Mezquita stands has long been a sacred space – it was host to a Roman temple dedicated to Janus and a Visigothic cathedral dedicated to St Vincent of Saragossa before the mosque was constructed in the 8th century. Finally, a cathedral was added inside the mosque by the Christian conquerors in the early 13th century.
Under Abd ar-Rahman II (822-52), the Mezquita held an original copy of the Koran and an arm bone of the prophet Mohammed, making it a major Muslim pilgrimage site.
Visit
Cordoba is an overlooked, not much talked about historic travel destination within Europe and even within Spain. There's a special tranquil atmosphere, where as soon as you get off the bus and enter the city, you immediately feel at peace. People are for most part very friendly, which is not always the case for other cities of Andalucia (I'm looking at you Granada).
Cordoba is a historic city. You won't find much or any skyscrapers or other modern architecture linking it to this millenium. Everyone takes it easy, there's no rush to do anything or go anywhere.
If you're a history freak, you're in for a serious treat. You'll find Roman ruins (like in the picture above), Muslim architecture and Spanish renaissance buildings.
After visiting twice, I highly recommend Cordoba if you're thinking about visiting Spain or if you're a fan of Spain but haven't visited Andalucia yet. Cordoba is as Andalucian as Andalucia gets. It is more proud of it's Arab history than any other city (even Granada or Malaga) and it's not as run down and dilapidated as the other Andalucian cities.
Cordoba is a historic city. You won't find much or any skyscrapers or other modern architecture linking it to this millenium. Everyone takes it easy, there's no rush to do anything or go anywhere.
If you're a history freak, you're in for a serious treat. You'll find Roman ruins (like in the picture above), Muslim architecture and Spanish renaissance buildings.
After visiting twice, I highly recommend Cordoba if you're thinking about visiting Spain or if you're a fan of Spain but haven't visited Andalucia yet. Cordoba is as Andalucian as Andalucia gets. It is more proud of it's Arab history than any other city (even Granada or Malaga) and it's not as run down and dilapidated as the other Andalucian cities.
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