Experience Moorish Cordoba
Cordoba in the Age of the Moors
711 AD was a year that would change the face of Spain forever. Islamic conquerors from Africa, led by Gib al-Tariq (from whom the Straight of Gibraltar gets its name), stormed across the sea and into Spain. In a brief period of time the Moors had conquerored nearly all of the Iberian Peninsula from the Visigoths. The Muslims would remain in Spain, at least in part until they were completely expelled in 1492.
Cordoba had been the largest city of Roman Spain, and remained prominent under the rule of the Germanic barbarians who settled there. Under Moorish rule it would become the capital of Al-Andalus: Moorish Spain.
Its role as capital came in the 750’s AD. This was a time of great turmoil in the Islamic world. The longstanding Ummayad Dynasty, that had ruled over the Islamic Empire since the days of the 4 Upright Caliphs, was overthrown by the Abbassids, who would rule for 500 years.
The last prince of the Ummayads, Abd ar-Rahman I, fled to Spain. Here he set up an independent Ummayad state, for the first time in its history breaking Islamic unity. Abd ar-Rahman I declared himself Emir of the Ummayad state of al-Andalus.
Under ar-Rahman and his successors, Cordoba would become an immensely successful city. Under the rule of Abd al-Rahman III, the rulers of Cordoba would claim the title Caliph. Under this new Ummayad Caliphate Cordoba would be the hallmark of Europe both in learning and culture as well as a brilliant star in the Golden Age of the Islamic world. It would remain so until 1236, when it was conquered by Fernando el Santo during the Reconquista.
The Mezquita
Mezquita means mosque in Spanish. However, in all of Spain there is one mosque that far and away stands out above the rest. This is the Mezquita, the Great Mosque of Cordoba. It was the epicenter of religious life in Moorish Spain, and is still an incredible site today.
The Mezquita was built in stages over the centuries of Moorish rule. As new emirs and caliphs came to power, more and more additions were made to the mosque, making it more elaborate and spectacular. It reached its final form in 987 CE, after more than 200 years of construction.
Its hallmark is the massive prayer hall, which after the last construction under al-Mansur had an area of over 158,000 square feet, including over 1200 columns. These columns were and still are the hallmark of the Mezquita’s grandeur.
Unfortunately today these columns are obstructed by a small church built directly in the center of the prayer hall. This church was built in the 13th century shortly after the conquest of Cordoba by Fernando el Santo. Despite this break in the glory of the original mosque, it is still a beautiful site to behold today.
The Juderia
Another surviving remnant of Cordoba’s Moorish past is the Juderia. Lying between the Mezquita and the Avenida del Gran Capitan, this was the Jewish quarter under Moorish rule. Less commercialized than much of the rest of modern Cordoba, it is a step back in time.
The Juderia is primarily composed of narrow laneways and small shops. It keeps much of the atmosphere of the old city, allowing visitors to experience a bit more history than can be found in modern Cordoba.
Another attraction of the Juderia is the Sinagoga, one of only three synagogues to survive the expulsion of the Jews in 1492 in all of Spain. This medieval synagogue, built in 1316, is open to the public 7 days a week. In front of the synagogue is a statue of one of the greatest medieval Jewish philosophers, Maimonides (whom the street on which the synagogue lies is also named after).
Medina Azahara
Another remnant of the greatness of Moorish Cordoba lies only a few miles to the northwest at the ruins of Medina Azahara. This was the palace of the first Caliph of Moorish Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman III. Between 936 and his death in 961, ar-Rahman spent a third of the state budget each year on improving this palace. It was named after one of his favorites, az-Zahra (the Radiant).
Today Medina Azahara has been carefully reconstructed to reflect its former glory, and some parts are still under reconstruction. It is open to the public seven days a week, and its restored grandeur is a grand testament to the golden age of Cordoba’s past.
