Trip to Spain and Portugal-(4) Cordoba -Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba

Mosque-Cathedral de Cordoba is an Islamic Mosque converted into a Christian cathedral in the 13th century. The original structure was built by the Umayyad ruler Abd ar-Rahman I in 784-786 with extensions in the 9th and 10th centuries which doubled its size and make it one of the largest scared buildings in the Islamic world. Everything used for its construction is exquisite.  Here you  see both Mosque and Cathedral under one roof and learning about its different stages of construction: starting from the old Basilica of San Vicente built during the Spanish Visigoth empire through the primitive mosque built by abd al-Rahman I to rival the great mosques of the East, successive extensions through to the time of Almanzor, ruler of Muslim Iberia under the Umayyard Caliphate of Cordoba, Reconquista of Cordoba by the Christian armies of Fernando III, when the mosque was converted into a cathedral.

We went in there 8:30am and got out 9:30am when it starts service without paying any fees which was the first time for this trip.

Trip to Spain and Portugal-Countryside from Badajoz to Cordoba, Spain

Leaving Badajoz, we continued our journey driving to Cordoba.  I took many photos of countryside from later afternoon till the evening when we arrived Cordoba.  It was almost dark.

I've never seen acres and acres of red soil on the ground. And the wooden sticks.  Are they wine farms? I wondered.

Trip to Spain and Portugal-(3) Badajoz, Spain-Bridge Puente de Palmas

 Leaving Evora, we got on the road to Codoba. On the way, we stopped at Badajoz for a break.

Walking on one bridge and admired bridge Puente de Palma from afar and it took our breath away. 

Bridge Puente de Palmas was Built in between 1460 and 1511, this bridge has 32 arches and is about 585 meters long.  

     The bridge we were walking on to see bridge Puente de Palmas and Badajoz River front

                                                         Bridge Puente de Palmas

Trip to Spain and Portugal-The Se-Evora Cathedral of Evora Portugal

Built between 1186 and 1250.  This cathedral was made of granite, it is one of the oldest and most important local monuments.  It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

Photos here were taken inside the cathedral, showing the cloister and on the roof top of the cathedral.

The roof top provides great view of Evora town.

Entrance and Interior

Cloister

On the Roof top