Around the Mezquita

The Mezquita, also known as the Great Mosque of Cordoba is the current cathedral of Cordoba (Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion in Spanish). Originally a pagan temple, it became a Christian church under the Visigoths. After the Muslim conquest in 711 AD the Mezquita was converted initially into a mosque. Later the Moors built a new mosque on the site. The Mezquita reached its current layout in 987 AD after the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. After the Spanish kings captured Cordoba from the Muslims in 1236 AD the Mezquita was converted into a Christian church. The Mezquita has an inner court containing a garden with orange trees and a large covered building containing many arches and 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos lies near the Mezquita and is a palace and former residence of the Spanish kings.