{"id":24257,"date":"2023-07-30T10:18:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T08:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=24257"},"modified":"2023-07-30T10:18:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-30T08:18:09","slug":"mezquita-catedral-de-cordoba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/spain\/andalusia\/cordoba\/mezquita-catedral-de-cordoba\/","title":{"rendered":"Mezquita-Catedral de C\u00f3rdoba- Cathedral or Mosque?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The heart and focal point of all tourists in C\u00f3rdoba is the Mezquita-Catedral de C\u00f3rdoba, which translated means Mosque-Cathedral of C\u00f3rdoba. Behind it hides one of the most impressive buildings I have seen so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Originally, the Mezquita-Catedral de C\u00f3rdoba was the former main mosque of the city. With the transition from Moorish Spain to Catholic Spain, a Gothic nave was built in the middle of the mosque. This unique building has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mezquita-Catedral<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At first, not much is visible from the outside. One walks past a high wall in the old town, similar to a fortress. From three sides of the quadrangular area you can enter the courtyard through large gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orange Courtyard \u2013 Patio de los Naranjos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you step through the impressive gates, which are in the surrounding wall, you stand Patio de los Naranjos. The so-called Orange Courtyard used to be the forecourt to the mosque. Here the ritual ablutions and the Koran lessons took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Orangenhof<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you look at old plans of the entire complex, you can see that the courtyard was initially quite small. As the whole complex grew over the years, the courtyard also increased and since about the 10th century it has the current size and numerous palm trees grew there. After the Catholics took over the mosque in the 15th century, the courtyard was rebuilt so that cloisters were created. Many palm trees were replaced by orange trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today this area of the complex can be used free of charge. There are a few benches under the trees. However, it is not quiet here. One gets here the tickets for the tower and the mosque-cathedral, tourist groups are carried out and there is a lively coming and going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Orangengarten<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bell tower \u2013 Torre Campanario<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our first destination when visiting the beautiful complex of the Mezquita-Catedral de C\u00f3rdoba was the bell tower. This stands at the main gate Puerta del Perd\u00f3n and is open to visitors since 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Mezquita-Catedral<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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You can buy the ticket for the ascent directly at the tower. There were two machines during our visit and two employees who assisted visitors with the purchase. Since the queue was quite long, we spontaneously decided to buy the ticket online. So we were lucky to be able to buy a ticket for the next time slot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Every 30 minutes, a limited number of visitors will be escorted up the tower and must have left within the 30 minute “visiting time”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of the bell tower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Abd ar-Rahman III, the first caliph of C\u00f3rdoba, had the tower built around 951\/952. At that time it was used as a minaret for the mosque. The tower consisted of two square blocks of different sizes, which were placed on top of each other. In the upper block was the room for the muezzine, which was open on all sides. The ascent had 107 steps at that time and was arranged in such a way that 2 stairs could be used. Thus, 2 people could always start the ascent at the same time and met only at the top of the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uhrenturm\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the Christians conquered the area, they rebuilt the tower into a bell tower in addition to the mosque. They used this tower until 1589, when an earthquake damaged the stability of the tower and so it was decided to build a new tower that encased the old structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century, the architect Hern\u00e1n Ruiz III created this new and higher sheathing for the tower. A bell tower was placed in the tower. Later, other works of other architects followed, such as the construction of the clock body, the dome and the figure of Saint Raphael. Today the tower has a height of 54 meters and is the highest building in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1991, the tower was extensively restored. Since 2014 there is now the possibility of the tower ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ascent to the bells<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Via a large new wooden staircase we begin the ascent in the tower. First we pass the dome, beautifully designed from below, and in the tower we can view the dome structure from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kuppelaufbau<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At an intermediate level, the tower guide gives us a brief explanation of the procedure and some safety tips. Then he accompanies the group further up the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the level of the bells is a tour. One walks partly under the bells and I was quite happy that they were not ringing. To this day, the ringing of the bells determines the liturgical life in the cathedral. Each bell has its own name engraved in the bell and has its own sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Glocken<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is still the possibility to climb a little further up the tower and walk around the tower above the bells on a circuit. The steps up there are very well-trodden and the view of the surroundings does not really change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"unter<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The view from the clock tower is unique. To one side you look into the Orange Garden and can see the Mosque-Cathedral from above. Another angle opens a view of the narrow streets of the city. The tower guide was very talkative during our visit and explained a bit about the city from above when asked (in English).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the visit time is quite limited at 30 minutes, especially if you want to take a lot of pictures. But the climb is definitely worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n