Cordoba

On By Mick CanningIn Cordoba, Mezquita, Spain, travel

We were in Cordoba in April. And we naturally visited the Mezquita (Spanish for mosque), a mosque repurposed as a cathedral in the sixteenth century. In this post, I’m focussing on the Islamic architecture – the parts that really interested me.

Regrettably, we had both been ill since before we left The UK and I was still feeling pretty grim throughout this part of our journey. This definitely impacted upon our enjoyment of the trip and I certainly fancy a revisit at some point. (It’s also worth mentioning we did the entire journey by train, which was comfortable, efficient, and more environmentally friendly than flying. That’s not relevant to this post, though.)

The forests of columns and archways are probably what the Mezquita is best known for.

I think the light almost gives this the quality of a Renaissance painting.

The Islamic world does amazing architecture. Arches, columns, and domes are the mainstay of their construction, but the decoration is also remarkable. The prohibition on depicting anything in the natural world means that paintings and carvings are invariably geometrical, intricate and inventive.

These type of decorated ceilings are common in the Islamic world.

This part of the roof is a whole other thing, though. The dome sits on top of a series of squinches, an architectural development allowing the transition from a square space to one where a circular dome can be supported (I’ve come across squinches before, in India. If you’re curious, the post is here). The decoration is glorious!

We had some rain, but sometimes buildings look even better in the rain. Well, that’s what I think, anyway.

25 thoughts on “Cordoba”

  2. For some reason, Cordoba seems familiar to me, but I can’t remember reading about this magnificent structure. I dipped into a bit of the area’s history (a very little bit) and this must have been quite an attraction during the area’s time as the capital of Moslem Spain. It’s beautiful; I’ve always enjoyed those intricate patterns particularly.

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  5. Thank you for the reminder of the beautiful architecture in Southern Spain and the enduring legacy that Moorish architecture has left behind. Two of my favourite features are the intricate carvings and the stunning tilework in these incredible places.

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  11. Wow… that is an incredible shot of the arches with the soft/warm lighting… this shot alone gives a great description of the ambiance. A wonderful look at Córdoba, Mick. Feeling under the weather is tough, but your passion for Islamic architecture shines through. The arches and columns are mesmerizing, and as you say, they hold the aura of Renaissance paintings. I’m even more inspired to visit someday by train 😊.

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