La Mezquita

The patio de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Oranges) and the high cathedral building inserted in the praying hall

Of the original mosque only the doors of the west side survive. Shown here is the Puerta de San Miguel comprising a lovely blend of Moorish and Late-Gothic art

The chapel of the Virgen de los Faroles and belltower in the north side of the cathedral-mosque site

Chapel of Villaviciosa

Originally a pagan temple, then a Visigothic Christian church, later a mosque and finally converted to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption after the reconquering of the city by king Ferdinand the Holy

Giant double arches with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite, made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, helped support the tremendous weight of the higher ceilings

Covering 8 of the Mezquita's 19  aisles is the catholic cathedral which in itself is a marvellous place of worship but a clash with the unity of the Mezquita. When he saw it, Emperor Charles V said in dismay, "You have destroyed something unique to build something commonplace!"

High altar

Detail of the transept

Gravestone of Leopold of Austria, bishop of Cordoba

Moorish style arches versus Baroque ceiling

Column detail

Mezquita's jewel - The Mihrab, a small chapel room decorated with exquisite Byzantine mosaics of gold. Mihrabs usually show the direction of Mecca but not in this case. Because the Mezquita was built on the foundations of an earlier christian church facing Jerusalem, this mihrab faces south rather than southeast as it normally would

Dome in front of the mihrab

Elegant austerity

A sea of red and white arches and pillars

Torre del Alminar, an ancient Arab minaret turned into a bell tower

Al-Hakam II door