On Tuesday morning we went on a guided tour of the Mesquite in Cordoba. Again we had a good guide, a young woman who showed up right on time but immediately launched into an apology in such rapid English I could hardly understand her. She went on to explain that the people of Córdoba are known in Spain as fast talkers. It's true. My Spanish is not great but it's helped us at times. I had trouble understanding in Córdoba. She went on to express a few negative personal opinions about politicians and then began an informative tour. She included many details about the blending of styles in this magnificent church/mosque. They have found remnants of an original Visigoth church which was followed by a mosque, the building of which was begun in 784 by Abderrahman 1 whose statue is in Almuñécar, where he first landed. The mosque was considerably enlarged during subsequent Arab caliphates and finally converted back to a church after the 'Reconquista' in 1236. Each period respected or at least recycled some of the works of the previous ones. It's fascinating to be shown the details of how this was done. Our tour ended with a walk through the Jewish quarter, where we were left to wander on our own. Later that afternoon I climbed the bell tower to see what remained of the minaret around which it was built and to get an overview of the city.
The blending of Christian and Muslim influences in the church/mosque of Córdoba
San Raphael, the patron saint of Córdoba
Us in the mosque/church
The bell tower
What remains of the minaret inside the bell tower
A view of Córdoba from the bell tower
The roof of the cathedral/mosque from the bell tower
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