The Great Mosque of Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain · A forest of arches in the capital of al-Andalus
The greatest mosque of al-Andalus in the Umayyad era, famous for its enchanting forest of columns and double arches in alternating red and white.
Did you know?
- Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil founded it, and Abd al-Rahman II, al-Hakam al-Mustansir and al-Mansur ibn Abi Amir later expanded it.
- It holds more than eight hundred columns topped by double arches in two alternating colors, red and white.
- Its mihrab is a masterpiece of Islamic art, adorned with golden mosaics made in the reign of al-Hakam al-Mustansir.
- It was turned into a cathedral after Córdoba fell in 633 AH / 1236 CE, and a church was built in its center in the sixteenth century.
History and architecture
When Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil reached al-Andalus and founded the Umayyad state there, he set about building a great mosque for his capital, Córdoba. The building was unique: rows of columns carrying double arches that give the space height and light, making it like a forest of stone palm trees. As Córdoba flourished, the caliphs expanded the mosque again and again, and al-Hakam al-Mustansir added a breathtaking mihrab clothed in golden mosaics. The mosque became the heart of a city that was among the greatest in the world for learning and building. After Córdoba fell it was turned into a cathedral, but its arches still tell the story of a civilization that flourished here for long centuries. In its golden age the mosque held thousands of worshippers, lit by hundreds of lamps, and hosted study circles that drew students from al-Andalus, the Maghreb and the East.
Founded: 169–170 AH / 785–786 CE
Religious significance
It was one of the greatest mosques of the Muslims in its time and a center of learning where great scholars of fiqh, hadith and language studied.
Prayer is not held in it today, as it is run as a church and historic site, so the Muslim visits it to reflect and to take a lesson.
Allah says: “Say: Travel through the land and observe how He began creation” (Al-Ankabut 29:20), and visiting such places opens a door to reflecting on Allah's ways.
Visiting tips
- Best time: Early in the morning at opening time, when the place is quiet; check visiting hours before you go.
- Photography: Between the rows of columns to capture the repeating double arches, and then in front of the gilded mihrab.
- Nearby: Medina Azahara, The Roman Bridge, Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs
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Where is The Great Mosque of Córdoba?
The Great Mosque of Córdoba is in Córdoba, Spain.
When was The Great Mosque of Córdoba founded?
169–170 AH / 785–786 CE