An adventure around Cordoba

(Pictures below)

After seeing the gardens at the Alcazar (fortress) in Sevilla, I thought it would be tough for any place else on my trip to top such a colorful, ravishing place.

I was wrong.

My second stop of the day was a visit to Cordoba's Alcazar, which Alfonxo X had built in 1328. This place was the normal home of the Christian kings, and parts of the fortress are still in their original form. And it was also the place where key events were planned in Spain's history, such as the discovery of the Americas and the reconquest of Granada. But for such a beautiful place, some pretty ugly events were also carried out here, as this Alcazar was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition. From 1490 to 1821, the Inquisition was carried out from here. The Alcazar is located just southwest of the mosque, so it was a short walk there this morning before it got too hot. There is a tower that you can climb, and it provided a great overview of Cordoba, as well as the mosque and the Alcazar's gardens.

Speaking of the gardens ... they were even more charming than the ones I wrote about in Sevilla. They were filled with yellow, pink, orange, red and purple flowers and roses. There were small rectangular pools with water shooting across them. There was running water throughout the garden and plenty of fountains. Orange trees were all around. It was a treat to one's senses, especially smell. Imagine the mix of fresh flowers and plenty of trees. It was stunning and such a tranquil place. When I was reading about the Alcazar last night in Lonely Planet, it noted that the gardens are among the most beautiful in Andalucia. I have to agree. I'll post pictures below.

Before visiting the gardens, however, I spent about 90 minutes at the mosque/cathedral located just across from my hotel. People come to Cordoba just to see this mosque/cathedral. The current cathedral traces its roots back to Visigoth origins. The basilica that was there, however, was destroyed and the mosque was founded in 785 and became the most important sanctuary of Western Islam. As you walk in the mosque, you see a myriad of arches that are striped red and white. The arches go on and on and seem to never end. The mosque was expanded in the 9th and 10th centuries to encompass 247,569 square feet. It was one of the biggest mosques in the world. Besides two changes, the mosque is still in its original architectural form. In 1236 when the Christians took over Cordoba, a cathedral was placed in the middle of the mosque. Today, people refer to the place as both the Mezquita-Catedral since both still remain. Outside the mosque are gardens filled with orange trees and fountains.

I spent the morning at the mosque and Alcazar and afterward walked to a small 14th Century synagogue that is one of three medieval synagogues in Spain. It was built in 1315 and is the only preserved synagogue in all of southern Spain after the Jewish people were expulsed in 1492. The other two synagogues are in Toledo. I then walked around the Jewish quarter for about an hour. It is home to a plethora of white buildings (stores and homes) that have beautiful flowers in the window boxes. I'll post a picture below of one of the narrow streets. I also found a little cafe for lunch: a ham sandwich and tortilla espanola (Spanish omelet) ... que rico!


I came back to the hotel for a couple of hours around 4 p.m. to escape the heat and write before going back out for tapas one last time in Cordoba. My bus leaves around 2 p.m. for Madrid, so I'm planning to check out of the hotel around noon, walk around the area a little more and then walk back to the bus station. I'll be back in Madrid around 7 p.m. and will catch the metro back to the hostel in which I stayed when I first arrived here. My friend from Fort Wayne who is also a Spanish teacher left today for Spain, along with one of her friends. They'll be staying in Madrid the next few days at one of her friends' houses. The four of us will go to Juanes' concert Wednesday night and probably spend some time around Madrid during the next couple of days.

Hasta manana,
--Justin

　

Inside the mosque in Cordoba.

The arches inside Cordoba's mosque that go on as far as the eye can see. 

Another look at the arches. They are beautiful. 

In the 16th Century the center of the mosque was taken out to allow for the cathedral's capilla mayor. 

The walls surrounding the mosque/cathedral. 

A view of Cordoba and the mosque/cathedral taken from atop a tower at the Alcazar.

The top of a tower at the Alcazar. 

The gardens at the Alcazar as well as one of the pools.

 Another look at the gardens and pools, with the Alcazar in the background.

The Alcazar's gardens.

One of many colorful flowers around the Alcazar.

A small 14th Century synagogue that is one of three medieval synagogues in Spain. It was built in 1315 and is the only preserved synagogue in all of southern Spain.

The Jewish quarter of Cordoba, which is home to a plethora of white buildings (stores and homes) that have beautiful flowers in the window boxes.

 Another flower at the Alcazar.