Friday morning we visited the Mezquita. Begun in 786, it had been enlarged three times during the Muslim rule. Especially impressive were the large number of rose and blue marble columns found inside. When Cordoba was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, two small Christian chapels were built inside the original mosque. Then in the 16th century, an elaborate Christian cathedral was constructed in the center of the mosque, and many smaller chapels were affixed around the walls of the Mezquita. During the Muslim rule there had been 1013 columns, but with the changes by the Christians only 857 columns remained. All these diverse architectural and artistic changes created by two different religions over eight centuries made for a very striking display of beauty and contrast.
In the afternoon we drove back to Lagos, Portugal. We had traveled 1265 miles over ten days. During this time the history of Spain had come alive. |