Ten thousand years ago it was the biggest city of Occidental Europe and one of the biggest cities of the world – it had over five hundred thousand inhabitants, 3000 mosques, 300 public baths, tens of wonderful palaces, a well – known university and a huge library with thousands of volumes. Nowadays, Cordoba signifies the biggest urban area declared a UNESCO patrimony and as far as the size concerns, it is the second oldest city from Europe.
There are over 1001 reasons to visit it and to disregard the severe air that Cordoba welcomes you with and discover as much as possible from the beauty of it. You can enter the Puente Romano, the single stone bridge with 16 imposing arches built by the romans – two thousand years ago over the Guadalquivir River and see the beautiful sight of the city. The main attraction here is the great mosque of Cordoba or La Mezquita.
On the outside it does not inspire much but entering inside it on the Puerta del Perdón you will start discovering the Patio de los Naranjos, or the Orange Trees Yard. Inside the mosque one can see 856 columns bound with each other by double arches, in white and red colors. This makes you realize how small and insignificant you can be. These 856 columns can represent whatever you imaginations tell you.
It is decorated with byzantine mosaic, which represent geometrical and floral motives and as well some Quran inscriptions. The knowers state that Mezquita has many common traits with the great mosque from Damasc, from Syria which served as a model. Anyhow, it was known from the beginning by the entire Islamic world and it absolved the Muslims from Cordoba to go to Mecca.
Close to Mezquita one can see the Palacio Episcopal, where the Diocezan Museum and the office of tourism are located. There are some other touristic places that deserve to be visited such as Museo de Bellas Artes, Palacio de Viana, Plaza del Potro or Palacio de la Merced.
Enjoy!
