The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba encapsulates Spain's own history. In 710 Umayyad Moslems conquered the Iberian Peninsula; Chrisians eventually pushed back and retook the peninsula after almost 800 years of Moslem presence on the peninsula.

In Cordoba, a Christian church was divided between Christians and Moslems after the Moslems took over. About 70 years later, a Moslem emir bought the Christian half, razed the entire structure and built the Great Mosque of Cordoba on the site by 784.

Christians regained control over Cordoba in 1236, and converted the mosque to a Roman Catholic church, making some changes but retaining most elements of its Moorish architecture.

Today it is officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, but it is commonly referred to as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba or the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Although Spanish Muslims have sought permission to pray here, to date the Catholic Church has turned down this request.

The Photos (in order)

S08A0812 - The bell tower, seen from the Court of Oranges

S08A0820 - The Court of Oranges

S08A0803 - Puerta de San Ildefonso

S08A0823 - Details of one of the arches

S08A0857 - The mosque-cathedral features a hall that includes 856 of these columns; these were built from pieces of a Roman temple and other Roman ruins in the area

S08A0839 - Capilla de la Concepcion, the Chapel of the Conception

S08A0864 - The treasure of Capilla Teresa, the Chapel of St. Teresa

S08A0868 - The transept

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