CORDOBA

The Great Masjid of Cordoba is one of the most important monuments in the world, and one of the few remaining structures from the Muslim era still extant in Spain. We will visit the Mezquita (as it is called in Spanish), which was consecrated as a church in the 13th century when Cordoba was conquered by Spanish Christians from the north. In the 16th century, a Renaissance cathedral was built into the center of the masjid, by the order of Emperor Charles V, who later regretted his decision with the words: "You have destroyed something unique in the world with something that can be found anywhere."

The Umayyad palace known as the Alcazar, situated next to the masjid, is also worth visiting, with its structures and gardens. As we visit these sites, we will discuss the building techniques and history of the structures.

We will also visit the Jewish quarter, located close to the Mezquita, and one the synagogues that has survived over the centuries. 

We will also walk across the Roman bridge which traverses the Guadalquivir and discuss the agricultural technology and methods used by Andalusi Muslims