Cordoba fascinates with Mezquita but lots more to see

The mosque in the Mezquita was enlarged for the last time in AD 979 (Alhambra wasn't even started until 1237) bringing the whole complex to its current dimensions

Puerta de San Estaban at the Mezquita; one of the world's greatest Islamic buildings

17th century Mezquita belltower reopened to visitors in 2014 after a 24 year restoration

From the belltower it's easy to see the Christian church that was built right inside the world's third largest mosque

Enjoyed sharing one of my favorite buildings in the world with these three!

Lee and I had visited the Mezquita before but it's truly awe-inspiring even a second time

16th century high chapel in the Mezquita; the cathedral took nearly 250 years to complete (1523-1766)

In 1271, instead of destroying the mosque, Christians modified it by building a church inside

The Mezquita hints at a refined age when Christians, Muslims and Jews lived side by side and enriched their city with vibrant, diverse cultures

The Patio de la Naranjas of the Mezquita was the ablutions area of the former mosque

The Mezquita's greatest treasure is the 10th century mihrab (prayer niche) with gold mosaic cubes imported from Byzantium

The Mezquita's maksura is a former royal enclosure where the caliphs and their retinues prayed

Nice to visit with pleasant weather since July and August are sizzling here

Mezquita choir was built in 16th and 17th centuries with carved mahogany choir stalls depicting scenes from the Bible

The Mezquita's most defining characteristic is its unique terracotta- and white-striped arches; since 1236, without missing a single day, mass has been held here

More than 1000 years ago Cordoba was Western Europe's largest and most cultured city

1377 Puerta del Perdon at Mezquita; Christian church was founded on this site in AD 600

16 arched Roman Bridge spans the Rio Guadalquivir and formed part of the Via Augusta which ran from Girona in Catalonia to Cadiz

Cordoba flourished more than 1000 years ago when it was the capital of Islamic Spain

14th century Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos is where Ferdinand and Isabella first met Christopher Columbus in 1486

The Alcazar's terraced gardens and fountains; Cordoba is only an hour by train from Seville

In the mid-900s Cordoba had a flourishing economy based on agricultural and skilled artisan products; famed city of the three cultures

Cordoba is a very beautiful city and it's a shame that most tourists just see it as a day trip from Seville or Granada

The world's largest olive plantations lie just outside Cordoba helping to make it a scenic destination

Cordoba historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; city has the highest average high temperatures in July and August for all of Europe at 99 degrees

Rubbing the toe of Jewish-scholar Maimonides is supposed to bring good luck; Lee tried it last time too

I was able to enjoy a walk through the old Jewish and Muslim quarters while my amigos had a leisurely lunch

Hard to get adjusted to the time in Spain; when we were in Cordoba sunrise was at 8:34 am!

The 54 meter tall belltower of the Mezquita required a separate ticket to climb but offers the best views of the city

Roman Bridge makes for a nice, traffic-free stroll leading up to the Mezquita

Ancient city walls surrounded by Jardines de la Victoria; much easier to navigate outside the walls than in the maze of interior streets