Dictionary of islamic architecture

See also:
Bahrain, East Africa, Maldives, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates
Córdoba
Capital of Islamic Spain (al-Andalus) from 717 until the
eleventh century although it continued to be in Muslim
hands until its capture by Ferdinand III of Castile.
In Arabic the city was known as Qurtabat al-Wadi al-
Kabir and together with Madinat al Zahra
represented
the centre of Islamic Spain under the Umayyad
dynasty of Spain. It is located on a plateau next to the
Guadalquivir river (from Arabic Wadi al-Kabir) which
was navigable from the sea in Islamic times. Abd al-
Rahman I made it the capital of al-Andalus and laid
out the famous Great Mosque of Córdoba (known in
Spanish as ‘La Mezquita’) next to the river. The Great
Mosque became the centre of the city which was said
to have had fifty mosques in the tenth century. Few
of these mosques have survived although the convent
of Santa Clara and the church of San Juan are both
converted mosques. Santa Clara has fine marble
columns and the remains of a minaret whilst San Juan
has a minaret which retains its original paired
window. In the tenth century Cordoba was famous
as the wealthiest city in Europe with paved streets
Section through the Great Mosque of Córdoba, Spain (after Barucand)
Córdoba

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illuminated by street lighting. Some of the atmosphere
of the medieval Islamic city can still be recalled in the
Jewish quarter to the north of the Great Mosque next
to the Umayyad city walls. Outside the walls
Umayyad remains can be seen along the river bank.
The bridge known as the Puente Romano was rebuilt
in 720 and is 250 m long and rests on sixteen arches.
Also alongside the river are remains of water mills
which date from Muslim times.