Mezquita of Cordoba

My first reaction as I stepped inside the Mezquita (now the cathedral of Cordoba and former mosque) was immense excitement and total incredulity at the sheer scale of what was before me - a 'forest' of granite and marble pillars extending as far as the eye could see. I had the sensation of stepping into a different world from that outside. As we walked around in complete awe it was almost more than the human mind could grasp. Any description I might attempt to offer would come nowhere near giving the reader even a glimpse of this beautiful and fascinating building - so a few photos will have to suffice - the Mezquita has to be seen to be believed.














The mosque, constructed in the 8th century, was re-consecrated as a Christian church in the 13th century and in the 16th century part of the mosque was destroyed so a cathedral could be built inside. I was struck by how visually comfortably the Christian elements integrate with the Islamic architecture - chapels, paintings, altars within the heart of and around the perimeter of the mosque - to create a unique blend of the two cultures.

A bit of fun utilising the light streaming through a stained glass window: