Hubby and I took a day trip to Córdoba while we were in Málaga in March 2011. It was raining so we brought along the umbrellas that we purchased for our May 2010 trip, but never did use that time. This trip we did use them but really, not terribly often. I was glad we had them the morning of our trip to Córdoba as a light rain was falling. Because of the rain, we took a taxi from the train station to La Mezquita instead of walking and getting wet. We were dropped off at the gate to the Patio de los Naranjos(below), found the ticket booth and soon we were inside the ancient place(s) of worship.
La Mezquita is a curious place indeed. I had read about the cathedral within the mosque and marveled at how strange it looked. While discussing our trip with friends in Málaga that evening, I learned that there originally was a Visigothic church on the site before the mezquita was built. So, it went from a church, to a mosque, to a mosque with another church inside. Very curious indeed. I was told that upon seeing the cathedral for the first time Charles V said: “You have destroyed something unique to make something commonplace.”
Once you enter the mosque you get a keen sense of how ancient it is. It smells old which is very hard to describe unless you’ve been in an old building. The famous red and white arches seem to go on forever, they are everywhere you look.
Here is the Mihrab:
A beautiful dome:
Ornate choir loft:
Beautiful ceilings, always remember to look up!!
More beautiful ceilings:
Minaret and Patio de los Naranjos:
La Mezquita from the Roman bridge, in the rain:
Maimonides and me, in the rain – he was a Jewish philosopher and physician who lived in Córdoba 1135-1204:
Don Quijote y Sancho Panza – Taberna Guzmán:
After touring the mezquita, we walked through the old Jewish part of town (La Judería) and found Taberna Guzmán along the way so we stopped for a bit of refreshment and a bite to eat and to get out of the rain. We had a nice meal of tapas and when we left the rain had stopped so we put away those umbrellas. Notice the smile cuz he doesn’t have to use his umbrella ;)
I wasn’t so sure it wouldn’t rain again:
We walked through the old town, found Plaza de las Tendillas (below) and all the fun shopping streets around the plaza too.
We went into a couple of shops but we didn’t buy anything. Afterwards we walked along Paseo de la Victoria and los Jardines de Diego de Rivas, which was very beautiful, on our way back to the train station. What a contrast from the morning. The sun had come out and it was pleasant and now in the 60s. It had turned into a beautiful afternoon. These are the kinds of rainy days that I can deal with, ones that start out with light rain and then clear up for the afternoon. Of course when travelling it’s better if it doesn’t rain at all but we were there at the end of winter after all so good weather isn’t always the norm. We headed back to Málaga, met with friends for drinks and then wandered around Larios street and its environs before heading back to our hotel for our last night in Málaga. Even with the little bit of rain in the morning, it was still a great trip.
travels with toby 
Reblogged this on RD Revilo.
Thanks for the reblog! This is actually a redone post of one I created in April. I am slowly redoing a lot of my posts due to the third party photo sharing site Webshots shutting down. A lot of my photo links no longer work. And then I had issues with this particular post so I just recreated it instead of updating. Whew!
you are welcome…good luck…peace
Ah, Cordoba. It also rained when I went there, but it didn’t stop! Having studied the mosque in my “Arte Espanol” class, I knew about the Cathredal being plunked smack dab in the center of the mosque after the country was retaken in 1492. The Moorish architecture is indeed exquisite and you have chronicled some excellent examples! iGracias!
De nada ;) (I took a different art class, the one that was held in the Prado….ah, the memories…)
Toby, Your pictures are amazing. I think I need to get out of the US once in a while!
Thanks. I recommend getting out of the country too :)
sounds/looks like a fascinating place to visit! thanks for sharing.
It is! you’re welcome and thanks for stopping by and commenting.
How fun to get to revisit Cordoba. You did a great job capturing all the high points.
Thanks Naomi ;)
We were just in Cordoba this past weekend for the puente!
yay! I bet you enjoyed it :)
Thanks for taking us on your trips. I enjoy your sense of color and architecture. It is the next best thing to being there. Bon voyage for your travels in 2013. I look forward to pictures of your journeys. Happy holidays and safe travels. BTG
Thank you so much, so very kind of you. And I appreciate your blog as well! Happy holidays to you and yours. Happy blogging :)
beautiful post! i love the architecture, and i love that umbrella of yours!
he he, I love that umbrella too! thanks for looking and commenting :)
this Cordoba architecture must be unforgettable
– as well as the Spanish style to play guitar …
yes, actually the architecture all over Spain is unforgettable. I noticed that you play guitar, ever dabble with Spanish guitar? love that music! thanks for your comments.
I was in the Mezquita once and I over-heard a conversation that went something like…
1st visitor to partner “Well, I reckon tha’s some kinda medieval torture device”
2nd visitor to 1st (unknown by 1st visitor) “It’s a clock”
1st visitor to 2nd “How in-the-heck do you know?”
2nd visitor to 1st “It says so there on the plaque”
I then waited until they both left and sure enough, written in plain English!
Every time I see photos of Córdoba I think of this… I guess you had to be there!
Great blog post and nice blog – best wishes :-)
he he, funny story!! thanks for stopping by and commenting. and thanks for the follow too. I’m going to check out your blog as well. Happy blogging!
Curious, but beautiful, wasn’t it? It rained on us too, and that was in May. A moral?
very beautiful!
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