How to Visit the Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain

The Mezquita, located in the city of Cordoba, Spain, is one of the most awe-inspiring places of worship in all of Europe. Built as a mosque in 785 on the site of an original Visigothic Church and later christened as a Catholic cathedral, the Mezquita is truly a blend of cultures and religions. Thousands of visitors travel to Cordoba simply to see the Mezquita, and if you’re lucky enough to count yourself one of them, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get to Cordoba. Cordoba is one of the main cities in Andalucia, the southern-most region of Spain, and is easily reachable by train from Madrid (2 to 4 hours) and Sevilla (1 to 2 hours). By far the fastest way is to take the high speed train from Madrid or Sevilla, called the Ave, which has only three stops (Madrid, Cordoba and Sevilla). Cordoba is also accessible by bus, with many connections from Sevilla, Ronda and Granada in Andalucia.

2. Get in to the mosque. The main visitors’ entrance to the Mezquita is via the Puerta del Perdon, built in the fourteenth century. This entrance leads to the Patio de las Naranjas, a beautiful patio filled with orange trees. The ticket office is located in this patio. While it is possible to make reservations, the size of the mosque usually makes them unnecessary, and even at the height of the tourist season entrance is usually easily obtained. Tickets cost around $10.

3. Take in the arches. The best way to truly understand the beauty of the mosque is to simply stroll around inside and let the countless number of arches and pillars pull you in one direction or another. The effect of the space and the light is hypnotic, and allows you to forget your cares and troubles.

4. Visit the cathedral. In the midst of all of the beauty of the mudejar architecture stands the somewhat shocking sixteenth-century cathedral, placed there by church authorities under the auspices of Carlos I. While the cathedral’s installations were not as disturbing to the beauty of the original mosque as they could have been, the effect is somewhat jarring. Carlos I, upon seeing what his minister had done, is reportedly to have exclaimed, “You have destroyed something that was unique in the world.”

5. Visit old Cordoba. Far too many visitors to the Mezquita leave Cordoba without ever really spending any time in the old part of the city, a mistake that you shouldn’t make as well. A tour through the winding streets that make up the Juderia will lead you past white-washed homes and beautiful plazas with bars, shops and restaurants in which to recover from your morning of sightseeing.