Còrdova i Castella-la Manxa

Córdoba y Castilla-la Manchamost 
Córdoba and Castile-La Mancha

Well I just took a trip with my family to Córdoba, a city which, in the Middle Ages was the cultural capital of Europe.  It is in Andalucía (Andalusia in Enlglish) which is the part of Spain which most Americans think of when they think of Spain (if they don't decide to be super intelligent and think Spain is Mexico instead).  Andalucía is when Córdoba, Sevilla (Seville), and Granada.  We went there for the weekend to visit my host dad's mom but Fátima, my host sister, and I, went and saw the historic parts of the city.

Just like previous blog posts I will post the pictures of my trip with explanations thereof.  I will also include several photographs not taken by myself to aide understanding of the various sites I have visited.  These photos, though I think it perhaps superfluous judging by the quality of them, will be marked with an asterisk (*).  

I hope you enjoy!

This is where Córdoba is on a Spanish map so that you have a reference point.

Original gates and city walls from the Middle Ages

First are the pictures from the city's medieval "judería" or Jewish district:

The old synagogue from the year 1315

Some shots of the interior

Sign on the outside

Cool old plaza next to the synagogue

Fátima, who makes several guest appearances in this blog post

Maimonides, (1135-1204) a famous Jewish rabbi, philosopher, and astronomer.

 Next comes the world famous Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.  You may be wondering, how it can be a mosque and a cathedral at the same time.  Construction was began in the year 781 and finished in 987. It was used as a mosque until 1236 when it was conquered by King Ferdinand III and converted into a cathedral.  It is one of the top 3 most famous buildings in Spain and one of the most architecturally studied buildings in the entire world.  The Mosque-Cathedral was also declared a World Heritage Site.  I really do encourage you to check out the Wikipedia page because it has more professionally taken photos and history about this amazing building:  Wikipedia: Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba

An aerial view*

Outer walls

The Cathedral's tower (minaret)

Inner patio and gardens

First sign of Christian additions

One of the interesting fountains in the patio

The fountainhead 

 At this point we went to go inside and were told they were closed.  They said there was Mass at noon (it was Sunday so we were going to go anyway) and that we could return later at 3 for a tour.  In the meantime, we explored the rest of Córdoba's historic disctrict.

Fountain of Saint Raphael the Archangel, Córdoba's patron saint.

Fátima being a tourist in her own country. 

Arch of Triumph, 1572 (most people only recognise the large Arc de Triomphe in France but they're all over Europe)

The Roman bridge, that comes up next

Weird fountain

We paid 1€ to go up to the top of the arc.  The next few photos are the all the views we could see.

Other side, really the front of the arch.

 What comes next is the Roman bridge, that is, build by the Romans in the first century.  I couldn't believe I was standing on the something that old!

The bridge*

The river

Saint Raphael statue on the bridge

Memorial across from Saint Raphael

The plaque on the memorial reads:  "This niche evokes the altar that was erected in this very spot in the 16th century, dedicated to the holy martyrs and patrons of Córdoba, Acisclus and Victoria.

More bridge and Saint Raphael from the other side

Cool tower at the other end of the bridge

The entrance

Inscription the on the arch

 We then made our way back to the Cathedral for Mass.  Lots of older people were walking in with their families but when we tried to enter we were stopped by the security guard who said we couldn't go into the cathedral, apparently he found it inconceivable that two teenagers would be going to Mass.  After some convincing that we're good practicing Catholics, we were allowed in.  Mass turned out to be an amazing surprise.  It was a pontifical Mass celebrating the jubilee year of the Trinitarian Order (a Roman Catholic religious order, e.g. Franciscans, Jesuits, etc.) celebrated by the bishop in the presence of the cathedral's canons, priests, monks, brothers, nuns, and a whole bunch of us faithful.  After Mass we went an ate sandwiches and checked out some tourist shops.  We then returned for our tour. 

Prepare for lots and lots of photos

The windows, you'll note the Islamic influence throughout.

The famous arches

Stained-glass window

One of the more than 100 chapels in the cathedral.  Just as a side note, these chapels are all larger than most Catholic churches I've been in.

What follows are some of the various chapels' signs with pictures of the chapel after them.  I didn't take photos of all of them because that would take an amazing amount of time.

The original floor

Chapel of Saint Michael the archangel

Related prize for anyone who, without internet help,  posts what "QSD" on the shield means in the comments!

Original ceiling

Fátima was giving me grief for taking pictures of  "everything but the bathroom", so I did.  Also as a side note, she was taking as many photos as I was!

 The next few photographs are of the "mirhab" when muslims face when they pray.  Note, the mosque part is no longer actually in use:

The mirhab*

Famous painting of this part of the mosque in use.

Some of the adapted parts

Medieval memorials placed in the floor.

Gothic ceiling

Small image of the the seven sorrows of our Lady

Some Renaissance additions

Cool intricate column

From a papal visti of Pope (soon to be saint!) John XXIII

Another altar, there are lots

The dedication, will work on a translation for that.

Two skulls of saints who's names we couldn't find out 

 Next is the main altar and church space:

The main altar*

The ambo, from which the Gospel is proclaimed

The choir, where the chathedral's canons would come to sing the Divine Office.*

The organ

The choir stalls, you will notice that the seat folds up and down, allowing those using them to sit and stand in their space.

The ambo, from which is proclaimed the Epistle.

So many photos!

Despite all the cool, historical styles and additions, this one plaque is by far the most important part of the entire building.  The inscription reads, with its list of names:  "Priests of the diocese who gave their lives for Christ in the religious persecution."

Fátima and I

The Holy Oils

Sarcophagus of Alfonso Fernandez of Montemayor, c. 1310.

Corner stone, not from the Mosque, but added c. 968-969

Floor plan with the various additions

Old liturgical books 

Medieval painting

This big thing in this and the next two pictures is used to carry the Blessed Sacrament, the Body of Christ, in processions. Made of silver and gold c. 1510-1516

Silver missal stand

Altar of Saint Teresa of Jesus

Better view of the processional monstrance

Gold-plated silver processional cross, 1620.

Lignum Crucis or a piece of the cross upon which was crucified Jesus Christ.

Pillar with gothic inscription 

Later engraving

More Holy Oils 

Just a covering for a door in a side chapel but I was impressed by the work but into it so I took a picture.

More of Saint Teresa of Jesus

Inscriptions in Old Spanish in the main chapel

Having a snack on the outside walls afterward

This is Seneca, a Roman philosopher who was born in Córdoba

Leaving the old city walls

 The next day, on our way back to Altea, we stopped through the Castilla-la Mancha, the land of the famous Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.  It was amazing to be where he would of been!  We stopped by a big lake and park and had lunch there.  I think Castilla-la Mancha is my favourite part of Spain so far.

So that's my trip!  I ask again, dear readers, your pardon, for the amount of arches shown in the blog post!  Hope you enjoyed and as always, thanks for reading.

Pax & Βοnum,

Seán