The Mezquita Catedral de Cordoba – A unique architectural masterpiece – Alluring Andalusia, Part 2

This post is the continuation of a recently started series documenting our travels to the Southern Spanish region of Andalusia in the European fall of 2025. We had started our trip with a short walk through Malaga before enjoying our first night in the beautiful Old town of Cordoba. We had done our mandatory early morning walk through the old town and across the Old Roman bridge ( First impressions of Cordoba (after a speed run through Malaga Centre) – Alluring Andalusia, Part 1 ).

After our first morning walk through Cordoba

The most important agenda for the day was visiting the famous “Mezquita” of Cordoba. For the uninitiated, Mezquita means Mosque in Spanish. But the present structure is officially a Cathedral so the official name of the site is the “Mezquita Catedral de Cordoba” and it has an interesting history behind it. Cordoba was the centre of Western Islam and a cultural capital of the Moorish kingdom called Al – Andalus from 950 AD to 1236 AD when Christians conquered the city. The conquering king was so impressed by the structure that he didn’t raze it to the ground like in the other Andalusian towns. Instead he let most of the structure remain intact, removing just a few columns in the centre and built a Church there. The present grand Cathedral at the centre of the Mezquita is from the 16th century and still leaves around 70% of the original mosque intact. That makes it a unique structure where Islamic and Christian architecture exist together in the same complex.

We had purchased online tickets to the Mezquita ( I will refer to it as only that as saying Mezquita – Catedral de Cordoba every time will get tedious!) including separate tickets for the bell tower which opened half an hour before the Mezquita itself (  The official website for tickets is – https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es ). There are limited spots for climbing the bell tower every half an hour after it opens and I was glad we had prebooked the bell tower for the first slot as it opened.

We lined up with the other people who had booked the bell tower and the staff on site started the ascent perfectly on time. I expected the entire visit to be supervised but it wasn’t. There were just polite reminders from the staff reminding us about the time remaining for our visit. The bell tower of the Cathedral stands where the Minaret of the original Mosque stood. Bells ring periodically now where for over 4 centuries a cleric would climb the tower and give the “Azaan” or call to prayer.

We enjoy our tower climbs wherever they are present and the bell tower of the Mezquita was no different. We climbed up the steps to the first balcony level which gave views over the courtyard and the Mezquita itself before climbing up to the top of the bell tower which has sweeping views over the Old Town around the Mezquita and even the modern City beyond. We spent the next half an hour clicking photos and enjoying the views before our time on top of the bell tower was done.

View over the courtyard of the Mezquita from the first viewing balcony level

The lane where our hotel was and the uniform roofs of Old Town from the bell tower

The Cathedral rises from the centre with the remaining structure of the Mosque all around

The stark difference between the sloping roofs of the old town and Modern Cordoba beyond

Enjoying our time on top of the bell tower of the Mezquita

Trying to get a decent sunstar with the Mezquita below

Modern Cordoba stretches as far as the eye can see

The sun rises above the Mezquita on a clear autumn morning  in Cordoba

The better half enjoys the view from the top of the Bell tower

Pointing the camera straight down to show a Birds Eye view

Taking turns to get our photos taken at the top of the bell tower

With the actual bells on top of the bell tower of the Mezquita

With Cordoba below both Old and New

With the Mezquita Catedral from the bell tower

One last photo of the pretty roofs of Old town before descending

Happy us at having done our tower climb for the day!

The remnants of the old minaret restored and displayed at the base of the Bell tower

The decorated  entrance archway to the Mezquita Complex from the bell tower

With the bell tower climb done it was time for the main attraction as we lined up to get inside the Mezquita. Even if this wasn’t peak season there was a sizeable crowd to enter the Mezquita as it opened. It opened right on time and inspite of the huge line and security check we were inside the structure in no time. Immediately I realised that all the reviews I had read about this place being a photographers dream were absolutely true!

As it had just opened we rushed ahead to the part which wasn’t crowded so that I could get the photos of the seemingly endless rows of arches without lots of people in the frame. The red and blue columns topped with double arches made of redbrick and white stone were aligned in such a way that they seemed to go on and on. What was amazing to learn was that these columns were scavenged from old Roman ruins and repurposed – looking at the symmetry it was impossible to imagine that these weren’t made just for this site!

The rows of columns and arches that makes the Mezquita a pleasure to take photos in

The better half poses with the unique architecture of the Mezquita

Difficult to get a selfie at the Mezquita without someone wandering into the frame!

We then moved to the wall opposite where we entered where the Mihrab of the original mosque was located – It was where the Imam would sit with his back to the crowd to deliver his sermon letting the acoustics of the room deliver his message to the huge number of people around. Sadly that section was being restored and we had to see the colourful Islamic mosaics which usually are made up of flowers and leaves and quotes from the Quran in Arabic ( Islamic Architecture will never show people ) through the make shift barricades.

The original Mihrab of the Mezquita being restored when we visited

With that section off limits we went through the treasury which had the 8.5 feet tall exquisite 16th century monstrance ( religious piece that is carried through the streets of Cordoba 60 days after Easter)which is so detailed at every level that we spent a fair few minutes finding details carved into the huge structure. Equally spectacular was the ceiling of the room where it was located.

The beautiful ceiling and the huge monstrance at the treasury of the Mezquita

Notice the sheer amount of detail at each level of the monstrance and the handles used to carry it through the city

A detailed marble tomb of Pedro de Salazar founder of the first hospital in Cordoba

A beautiful room filled with religious artefacts at the treasury of the Mezquita

We now came to a section of the Mezquita which is found nowhere else in the world – Gothic vaulted ceilings mingling with the beautiful Moorish arches. Two discordant architectural styles brought together beautifully and a pleasure to photograph. Some of the niches of the moorish arches were repurposed to fit sculpted panels showing the life and crucifixion of Christ – Religious fusion like none other!

Vaulted ceiling rises in between Moorish arches

Moorish arches filled with panels showing the Passion of Christ

The better half poses at a site like no other in the world  – Gothic ceiling fused with Moorish arches – Only at the Mezquita Catedral of Cordoba

With the Mosque around seen it was time for us to visit the grand 16th century Church at the centre of the Mezquita. Immediately it strikes you that the structure soars up vertically much higher than the rest of the Mezquita. Tall renaissance arches decorated to the nth degree with a vaulted ceiling high above & a high dome to cap it all off. It was like you had stepped into a totally separate structure altogether. I enjoy taking photos of what I call the pleasing symmetry at Cathedrals and I clicked away to glory here.

The towering Cathedral at the centre of the Mezquita

Decorated ceilings with no plain surface in sight!

The newer 18th century Mahogany Choir at the Cathedral

With the carved Mahogany Choir at the Mezquita

To add to the already floor to ceiling decorations of the Cathedral were two huge Church organs facing each other. A unique thing about Spanish organs was horizontal pipes in addition to the usual array of vertical pipes that make up a usual church organ.

Two grand Church organs with added horizontal pipes at the Catedral of Cordoba

The painted and carved altar at the Mezquita Catedral de Cordoba

The mandatory selfie with the beautiful altar

We then spent a few minutes standing and straining our necks gazing at and then trying to capture the beautiful ceiling above with our cameras. When I was satisfied at my efforts we gave our tired necks a rest and walked out of the Cathedral to walk some more time amidst the Moorish arches.

The beautiful dome and ceiling of the Cathedral at the centre

Pleasing Symmetry at it’s best at the Roof of the Mezquita Catedral

Natural spotlights making the already beautiful architecture look ethereal

At the entrance of the towering Catedral with it’s unique roof beyond

Walking amidst the arches as more and more tour groups enter the Mezquita

We walked amidst the arches appreciating details we had missed earlier like the carved wooden panels on the roof, the baptistery which was planted amidst the arches and various small chapels located on the niches in the side walls of the Mezquita.

Crved wooden panels on the roof amidst the arches

The beauty of the arches and the roof of the Mezquita

The Baptistery planted right amidst the arches of the Mezquita

Mesmerising architecture of the Mezquita

Taking turns for getting our photos clicked at the Mezquita

Small stained glass windows

Beautifully painted small chapels along the side walls of the Mezquita

We had entered the Mezquita at 10 am and it was almost lunchtime but we couldn’t get enough of this architectural marvel. All good things have to come to an end though and we had reservations for lunch at a restaurant in the Los Patios neighbourhood. So with a last few photos of the arches we exited the Mezquita Catedral of Cordoba glad that we had gotten the chance to visit this unique monument.

Last photos of the Mezquita before saying goodbye

We walked out into the bright sunlight of the courtyard of the Mezquita. The courtyard was very crowded then with more groups and individuals waiting for their turn to enter. So we left walking around the orange trees of the courtyard complex of the Mezquita for later and said goodbye to the Mezquita for now leaving through a small uncrowded side exit.

Walking out into a crowded courtyard after visiting the Mezquita

Exiting the Mezquita from a small side exit

With the main sight in Cordoba seen at peace we would then proceed to walk to the Patios neighbourhood for a great lunch and more sightseeing around Cordoba thereafter. But that is topic for another post some other time, some other day as I wanted this one to just be about this unique monument.

Till next time,

Bye!

At the beautiful Patios neighbourhood in Cordoba