Cordoba Mosque Guided Tour

This guided tour focuses on a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Cathedral Mosque. The experience, which you'll be accompanied by an expert guide, also includes headphones so you won't miss any relevant details.

You can enjoy the activity, which lasts about an hour and a half and takes place at any time of the year.

Like other monuments in Andalusia, the Cathedral Mosque is also marked by the influence of different cultures. During the Visigothic period it was known as the Cathedral of San Vicente, became a great mosque during the Muslim period and regained its Catholic vocation from 1236, the year of the Christian reconquest of Cordoba.

The guide will explain the history of this monument, focusing mainly on the following attractions:

• Bell Tower - It was originally a minaret and from its top, the muezzin would invite the Muslims to prayer. Today, it is difficult to discern the old Islamic appearance, as the tower underwent a major renovation in the 17th century. From the top of the tower there is a beautiful view over the whole city.
• Patio de los Naranjos - This is not the courtyard with the largest variety of plants, but it is certainly one of the most impressive. Originally it was a simple public space for ablutions before prayer, but after the Christian reconquest it became a garden with orange trees. During flowering, the scent of orange blossom is intoxicating.
• Cathedral Mosque - One of the most important Islamic monuments in the old continent, it shows both the evolution of the Umayyad style and the post-Reconquest additions. Its construction is linked to Abd al-Rahman I, founder of the powerful emirate of Córdoba. Inside, the 158 columns and the imposing main chapel are of particular interest.

Once the activity is over, there is the option of staying inside the Cathedral to continue visiting it.