"CORDOBA" a Córdoba Travel Page by vibi68

From the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century, Cordoba was a Roman colony. Sadly, few vestiges testify of that time, one can however always see the Roman bridge and remainders of the temple. At the time, Cordoba was head of the two richest provinces of Roman Spain. In 572 as the Visigoths occupied it, Cordoba became a simple provincial metropolis as Toledo became the capital of unified Spain. 150 years later the Moors conquered the Iberian peninsula and Cordoba was taken within 3 months with a new destiny in view as 5 years leater, in 716, the new province of Al-Andalus is created and its government settles in Cordoba. 50 years later, Abd Al-Rahman Ist, founder of the Omeyade dynasty, at the time goind down under the hands of the Damas Caliph, made Cordoba an emirate capital of Moorish Spain. Cordoba then became for 250 years, one of the economical centers and the largest intellectual capital in the world as it adopted the law of Islam and Arabic official language. The Mosque of Cordoba was built in 5 stages, in the years 785 to 987, while in 929, Abd Al-Rahman III established the caliphate of Cordoba which represented the apogee of the city's prosperity. It's only during the 10th century that Muslim homogeny in Spain started to disintegrate and Cordoba was at the head of its decline, losing its political and economical supremacy, therefore becoming once again a simple provincial capital. Still, during the 12th century Cordoba resisted the Christian reconquest, it went on however in peace with the foreign powers. At that time two philosophers are distinguished in Cordoba: the Muslim philosopher Averroès and the Jewish thinker Maïmonide. In 1236 Cordoba is conquered by Ferdinand III of Castille and is attached to Catholic Spain at the time an incorporation in the kingdom of Castille. Thanks to the tolerance of the Christian kings, Cordoba sheltered the Muslims and Jews. Many Mudejar monuments which are Christian buildings essentially faithfull to forms and techniques of the Muslim art were built in the city and the area. As of the reconquest, the Mosque became Cathedral. In 1492, Jews are expelled from Spain with the Spanish Inquisition. When Grenada was finally taken, Spanish Islam was over. In this Christian and unified Spain, Cordoba remained the provincial capital of agriculture. The Mudejar style was still often propagated in palaces and the houses. In 1523 work begun to build the Holy Cathedral inside the Mosque, under Charles Quint. In 1808, Cordoba is ransaked by the French during the Napolean War.

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Inside the great Mosque of Cordoba

Today's Cordoba counts 314 000 inhabitants. Its historical center has kept its midieval plan with irregular design and narrow streets; the plazas, promenades, water pieces, fountains and magnificient gardens have all been integrated in this city built on the edge of the Guadalquivir. The historical center was classified in 1984, as World Heritage, along with its central jewel the great Mosque of Cordoba. The Roman bridge which has served many great regions along history, is still now the culminant point of entrance to the city. To the city's frame now is added a domestic architecture that also is reminiscent of the Moorish period. Amongst the houses sewed around the closed patios are errected monuments witness of a heavy historical passed; Roman, Mauresque, Jewish, Christian and many Mudejar and Gothic churches. Cordoba's little town of Almodovar del Rio is also must in a complete visit of the area.