Cordova - Andalusia - Spagna

In the heart of the Andalusian autonomous region Cordoba is an important reference point for European culture This ancient city declared a site of world significance is the product of the meeting of diverse cultures as it has been defined throughout the centuries The ancient city gate that stood along the walls has been replaced by the current one created by Hernan Ruiz The historic district of Cordoba is made up of a network of small streets alleys squares and white courtyards They spread around the Mosque-Cathedral to testify to the importance of the city during the Middle Ages The Mezquita of Cordoba is a magnificent building dating back to the 8th century the true symbol of the many religious changes They have interested the city throughout the centuries Today it is a Roman cathedral It has been used as a warehouse temple and even a lighthouse For a certain period it was also the second largest mosque in the world Today the Mezquita is no longer a mosque but the Cathedral of Cordoba officially the Cathedral of the Assumption of Saint Mary Although its architecture remains undeniably linked to Islam And to the architects who designed the mosque in the 8th century The doors stand out for the harmony of their shapes The doors are a classic example of the typical tripartite structure of Cordoba characterized by the door with a buttress and rich architectural ornamentation I freggi enrich the top part of the doors with interwoven arches supported by small marble columns The motives of the outer windows are a symmetrical repetition of geometric shapes that extend infinitely Multiplying dividing and rotating around each other A true metaphor for eternity The main decorated gates are inspired by love while the eastern gate enlarged by Almanzar It is a simple reproduction of the previous gates The Paloma or Dove door in Gothic style dates back to the 15th century The Mezquita of Cordoba is remarkable for its giant arches and for its impressive forest of columns Over a thousand columns of sardonyx onyx marble and granite The columns rise above the capitals with branches reaching upward to capture the sunlight For Muslim faithful the perfect symmetry between the door and the ceiling It grows in a single direction towards infinity in a mystical void revealing the pure essence of the individual relationship between man and God The white and red stripes of the arches emphasize the sensation of repeating and expanding space toward an unattainable horizon According to tradition the mihrab had to be the most elaborately decorated part of the entire mosque This is precisely to attract Muslim followers The twin color red and white of the block that makes up the arches Near the entrance to the mosque it was later transformed over the following centuries to form this arch above the entrance to the mihrab The original colors have been reworked to create a fantastic interactive action between background designs in blue red and gold Creating a symmetrical repetition of floral motifs that evoke the distant Damascus After the reconquest of Cordoba in 1236 the great mosque was transformed into a Christian church but without making immediate changes to the building itself It was only more than 200 years later in 1523 That Bishop Alonso Manrique obtained permission from Charles V to build a cathedral inside the mosque The taste and concept of time had changed over the course of more than 150 years From Moorish architecture then to late Renaissance architecture up to the elaborate Baroque of Spain e so-called Churrigueresque style The cathedral houses over 50 chapels mostly located in some recesses in the walls The most valuable piece of the treasure is a 16th- century Gothic silver reliquary belonging to Enrique Arfe The 2.63-meter-long and weighing over 200 kg Entering the choir is a first example of the rich artistic union that characterizes the cathedral The cross-shaped arches are Gothic while the style of the vaults above the central nave and the transept is influenced by Herrera The nave is a combination of styles dating from the 16th to the 17th century including Spanish and Flemish influences It was added when the Catholic cathedral was built inside the mosque right in the center of the Islamic temple The choir has a square plan and is dominated by a high façade where the prelate's throne is located Crowned by the statue of Saint Raphael the patron saint of the city of Cordoba In 1328 King Alfonso XI decreed the construction of a fortified Christian palace e remains of previous Roman and Arab buildings are near the mosque The fortress is square in plan With towers at every corner The interiors are surrounded by a gallery that houses numerous archaeological treasures The Alcazar of the Christian Kings the castle of the Christian kings is a historic fortress located along the river of Cordoba The Guadalquivir Alcázar was built by Alfonso XI in 1328 The original Moorish Alcázar It was located near the mosque where today stands the Bishop's Palace The Alcassar of the Christian Kings It is a quadrangular building with powerful walls and three towers The palace housed the Holy Inquisition From 1482 until 1821 the year it was abolished Used as a prison until 1951 It was then restored to become a museum and a public space for hosting various cultural events The Alcassar is surrounded by magnificent gardens called the Paseo de los Reyes where the statues of all those kings are located They somehow were connected to this fortress The gardens cover an area of 55 000 square meters It is pleasant to walk along the paths admiring the enormous variety of plants palms and cypresses Orange and lemon trees dominate the beautiful stone fountains and large ponds The water was originally brought here from the Serra Morena via a dedicated aqueduct and the large hydraulic wheel of Albo Laffia along the Guadalquivir River It helped maintain a steady flow of water The large ponds were instead dug during the 19th century Colorful flower beds are flanked by tall green hedges The Mudéjar courtyard has been restored The gardens have returned to their former glory Behind the door of every house in Cordoba is a typical terrace of great historical importance The terraces of Cordoba reflect the city's climate conditions are an essential part of the house They offered a refreshing respite from the summer heat White walls fountains columns and flowers Help to refresh this hot climate In Córdoba as in most other medieval cities the Jews tended to live in their own neighborhoods Far from their fellow citizens Here we see Maimonides a great Spanish Jewish philosopher In the eleventh century Cordoba was one of the most important European capitals People of diverse cultures and religions Jews Muslims and Christians lived together peacefully a blend that fostered the birth of important philosophers scientists and artists