The Mezquita of Córdoba
Andalusia, Spain
Badge Unlock
Eight Hundred Columns
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
275
XP
+100 Spain
= 375 total
1 day
The Mezquita of Córdoba
275 + 100 XP
Abd al-Rahman I began the mosque in 785–786 and his successors quadrupled it, until there were around 850 columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite — much of it taken from Roman and Visigothic buildings — carrying two tiers of red-and-white horseshoe arches, so that the interior reads as a forest rather than a hall. Al-Hakam II added the mihrab between 961 and 976. After the reconquest a Renaissance cathedral nave was built straight through the middle of it in the 16th century, and Charles V, who had authorised it, reportedly regretted it when he saw what had been done.
Required Activities
1
of 6
Stand in the hypostyle hall among the columns and work out why it reads as a forest rather than a room
2
of 6
Look closely at the columns: jasper, onyx, marble and granite, much of it reused from Roman and Visigothic buildings
3
of 6
Find al-Hakam II's mihrab of 961–976 and its Byzantine gold mosaic, sent by the emperor in Constantinople
4
of 6
Walk into the Renaissance cathedral nave cut through the middle in the 16th century and decide for yourself what you think of it
5
of 6
Climb the bell tower, which is the old minaret with a Christian belfry built around it
6
of 6
Walk the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir and look back at the whole thing from the far bank
Stand in the hypostyle hall among the columns and work out why it reads as a forest rather than a room
Look closely at the columns: jasper, onyx, marble and granite, much of it reused from Roman and Visigothic buildings
Find al-Hakam II's mihrab of 961–976 and its Byzantine gold mosaic, sent by the emperor in Constantinople
Walk into the Renaissance cathedral nave cut through the middle in the 16th century and decide for yourself what you think of it
Climb the bell tower, which is the old minaret with a Christian belfry built around it
Walk the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir and look back at the whole thing from the far bank
Before you go
Free entry early in the morning on weekdays, ticketed thereafter. Córdoba regularly exceeds 40°C in summer and is one of the hottest cities in Europe.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Andalusia
Loading region info…
Explore more about Andalusia:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
275 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
375 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
More challenges nearby
within 100km
The Patios of Córdoba
Spain · Andalusia
cultural
easy
1d
1 km away
Medina Azahara: A Capital Built and Destroyed in Seventy Years
Spain · Andalusia
history
easy
1d
8 km away
Montilla: The Sherry That Is Not Fortified
Spain · Andalusia
food
easy
1d
35 km away
Écija: The Frying Pan of Andalusia
Spain · Andalusia
cultural
easy
1d
46 km away
Cabra and the Sierra Subbética Geopark
Spain · Andalusia
nature
medium
1d
55 km away
Zuheros and the Cave of the Bats
Spain · Andalusia
nature
medium
1d
55 km away