The Progressive Traveller Goes To Cordoba
Fast train to Cordoba.
Cordoba is 45 minutes by Fast Renfe Train from Seville and costs 50€ per person return. It’s a good idea to pre-purchase fast train tickets in Europe as they often sell out.
Cordoba was built on the largest river (Ria Guadalquivir) in Andalucía around 164 BC and is no longer navigable.
The Moors arrived in Spain in 711 and made Cordoba the headquarters of the Emirate. Over 2 centuries the Moors made Cordoba the richest city in the known world. A few decades later, Córdoba became the object of civil war between different Moorish factions which weakened the Moorish Kingdom.
In 1236, the King of Castile, Fernando the 3rd Saint and the Christian army took Cordoba.
Mezquita – Mosque – Cathedral
St Teresa of Calcutta India picture hangs on the wall in Cordoba Cathedral.
The Cathedral was later built in the centre of the Mosque.
Today, the big drawcard to Córdoba is the Mezquita – Mosque – Cathedral with its long and mixed religious use and turbulent history. The Cathedral is a stunning monument to the two religions (Islam and Christianity) and cultures that have shaped Andalusia.
The original Visigoth basilica was divided into two halves and used as a place of worship by both Muslims and Christians which was a remarkable act of tolerance, given the times. Although, this arrangement was short lived!
The mosque was enlarged several times over the next centuries. What started as a Christian site in the mid6th century evolved into a mosque with the arrival of the Muslims in the mid-7th century.
With the conquest of Córdoba in 1236, the site was reconsecrated as a Catholic Church. In the 14 hundreds the construction of the Main Chapel reflected the new religion and with the transept, dome and choir vault being completed in the early 16 hundreds.
The building of the transept was very imaginative, combining the caliphal naves with the transept in the form of lateral naves.
Today, Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is a masterpiece with a Visigoth basilica flowing into Caliphate splendour and culminated with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Art. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.
Inaugural International Flora Installations
Unbeknown to us, Cordoba was hosting the first international floral exhibition in patios around the city.
Some of the of the best world-class flora artists had created these magnificent temporary arrangements in eight Cordoba patios (courtyards).
Wandering the streets and searching for the locations of the flora exhibitions was a great way to see Cordoba.
The Belgian flora entry by Tomas de Bruyne, ‘Paradise: Delirium and Desire,’ was also spectacular winning second prize.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit the third prize winner from the Australian studio Loose Leaf for their installation ‘Free Fall’.
The free exhibition was a wonderful find and we throughly enjoyed seeing how creative artists can be.
Córdoba mysterious beauty is down every narrow, cobbled stone street and buzzing tapas bar but the true heart of Cordoba is the astounding Mezquita (cathedral-mosque).
Most of the sights are nearby to each other and the best way to see this great city is by foot.
I am the Progressive Traveller. I've been travelling the world extensively since 2002. My website is full of travel stories, tips, recommendations, resources, offers for you to use and enjoy. Follow my journey on social media and travel the world with me. Happy days.
