tres culturas

First time venturing away from Sevilla=success! Today I  went to Córdoba with people from my program. The bus ride was equivalent to the trip from Madison to Chicago, but the views definitely were not! After kilometers and kilometers of rolling green hills, olive trees and roaming sheep we arrived in Córdoba, the first capital of the Muslim empire in Spain. I have been eager to see the famous Mezquita (mosque) in Córdoba since reading about it in my culture and civilization class last spring and the day has finally arrived! It definitely didn't disappoint.  Córdoba is a cool city to experience, because it has distinct remains from three distinct religions that have occupied Spain--Catholics, Muslims and Jews.

The Mosque is absolutely increíble. The Muslims were the first to construct it, and in the thirteenth century when the catholics took over, they seriously put a cathedral smack dab in the middle. So as you walk around you are moving from very typical muslim architecture right into catholic/gothic stuff. Two worlds that don't really mix well today are so intertwined in the art and architecture in Spain, especially seen in Córdoba.

Here is the roman bridge that goes over the Guadalquivir River to Córdoba (same river I cross every day)

Kilómetros y kilómetros de arcos! This image is pretty famous as a representation of the Mosque

Intricate Muslim design---arab words in the dark. This arc led into a Muslim room of prayer

Another look at the Muslim design. The cúpula (or dome roof) was especially cool. Pic doesn't do it justice!

Proof! I have been to the Mezquita! 

Practically 2 steps from the arches you walked into the Cathedral. It was weird how the lighting changed---it was much whiter and much brighter in this room

The walls, roof and everything was breathtaking 

I especially liked these details in the choir room---and 80 year old worked on these mahogany carvings for 10 years and died 15 days before they were complete. Each one shows a scene from Jesus in the bible. 

The most famously photographed view in Córdoba---in the summer this plaza has a competition to see who can have the best floral presentation so it is decked out in flowers! You can see the tower of the Mosque through the streets of the famous Jewish neighborhood

Lindsey and me at the La Calleja de Flores

Here is a Jewish synagogue in the neighborhood we walked through. It was once used a church. Can you see the red cross under the arch?

This is the garden of the Alcazar in Córdoba. 

Part of my group "Las chicas de Fran" at the Alcazar

Lovely panoramic. Again, doesn't do it justice! 

I still can't get over all of the cultural influences that have passed through this country! It leaves for some fascinating architectural and artistic remains. Looking out my window on the bus ride back to Sevilla, I was fondly reminded of the view out my window of our house in Malvern---lots of sheep and lots of hills. Next weekend it is off to Granada! Might have my first Spanish discoteca experience tonight...not really sure what to expect! When in Spain..!