Mezquita Cathedral, Córdoba, Spain

Even for those bored of Europe’s great religious buildings, the one built under Moorish control in Córdoba is a little different. It’s worth the tourist board promotion.

Europe’s great cathedrals

Europe is packed with many great cathedrals, from Chartres in France and Cologne in Germany to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. However, when you spend a lot of time travelling in European cities, you don’t half get sick of them.

Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque?

Whether they’re Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque, and irrespective of the treasure troves of artworks inside, they all have a tendency to merge into one after a while. I, for one, let out a sad sigh when I see any tourist board promoting the local cathedral as the city’s highlight. Surely there’s something else a little more unique and interesting than another religious building?

An exception to the rule

The exception to this fairly hard and fast personal rule is the Mezquita in Córdoba, Andalucia, Spain. When I went, I really wasn’t expecting all that much (it was another cathedral after all), but I found it truly breathtaking.

Courtyard of orange trees and archways

From the moment I entered the courtyard of orange trees outside, I could tell that this was a cathedral that’s a little different. It was spacious, laid out horizontally rather than vertically, for a start. Inside it was simply breathtaking – painted archway after painted archway gave a dizzying fairground maze effect that simply doesn’t happen elsewhere.

Former mosque

The reason for this unusual architecture is that the Mezquita is a former mosque, dating back to the times when Andalucia was under Moorish control. Thankfully it was converted and reconsecrated rather than knocked down when the Reconquista took Córdoba back.