Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral of Mesquita (Mezquita de Cordoba) in Spain, resort of Cordoba
Rating: 9,5/10 (4494 votes)  This cathedral is one of the main architectural landmarks of the city. It used to be a mosque of Islam and is still called the Mosque-Cathedral. Originally, there was a Visigothic church on the site of the cathedral. After the conquest, the Moors used it as a mosque, and in 785 a new building began to be built with a mihrab and 11 aisles facing the Orange Trees Courtyard. The next rulers completed the construction of the mosque, adding something of their own to it. Under Almansor, it acquired its present size. After the Christians took back the city, the appearance of the mosque did not change for a long time. Fundamental changes took place only under Charles the Fifth. By his order, in 1523, construction began on the cathedral inside the prayer hall of the mosque. The cathedral was built in the very center of the mosque. During its construction (1563-1599) 63 columns were destroyed. In the cathedral you can see a throne made of pink marble, carved choir seats and a painting by the artist Palomino. Through the Gate of Forgiveness, you can enter a small courtyard with orange trees and palm trees. From this courtyard you can get to the prayer hall, which is 11.5 meters high. There are 856 porphyry and jasper marble columns in it. To the left of the mihrab is the Chapter Hall, which is the treasury of the cathedral. It contains rare objects, including nine statues by Adonso Cano and a silver monstrance made in 1517 by Enrique de Arfe. The third mihrab, which contains an open Quran, is a real masterpiece of Islamic decor and architecture. The dome of the mihrab is carved from a single piece of marble and is decorated with numerous geometric and floral patterns, as well as lines from the Koran. Opposite the mihrab is the Villavicios Chapel, which is the very first chapel in the Moorish mosque. Next to the Capella there is the Kololevskaya chapel, made in the Mudejar style. It is the mausoleum of some rulers. At the top of the bell tower of the cathedral stands a statue of the patron saint of the city – Archingel Michael.  
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