La Mezquita or Mosque of Cordoba it is a fascinating building that embodies the many political and religious changes that the city has undergone over the centuries and today is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Built in 785 by Emir Abd ar-Rahman I on the site of an ancient Visigothic church, the Mezquita is opulent and luxuriant: gold mosaics, gigantic arches with 856 columns and plays of lights run along the 23 square meters of the wonderful building work of Islamic architects.
The main entrance is the fourteenth century Gate of Forgiveness in Mudejar style which is located next to the XNUMXth century Muslim minaret, the Torre del Alminar. Inside is the magnificent Patio de los Naranjos, the orange courtyard, which leads to the prayer room. In front of this gate is the mihrab, the prayer niche of the qibla wall which indicates the direction of Mecca.
In the center of the building is the Christian cathedral built in the 1520th century, with a beautiful Capilla Mayor and a baroque choir from 1600. In front of the mihrab is the maksura, the place where the caliphs prayed, the most decorated parts of the mosque. For example, the mihrab portal is made up of XNUMX kilograms of gold mosaic tiles donated by the Christian emperor of Byzantium, Nicephorus II Phocas.
In 1984, the historic center of Cordoba, including the Mezquita, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Entrance tickets to the Mezquita
The Mezquita is certainly the most visited attraction in Cordoba and to visit it you need to buy an entrance ticket or take part in a guided tour. There are different types of tickets: choose the one that's right for you! We advise you to visit it in any case in times of less crowds, that is in the early morning or late afternoon.
Skip-the-line ticket to the Mezquita
Given the large influx of tourists to the Mezquita, we recommend that you buy a ticket with priority entrance: it will allow you to save a lot of time queuing at the entrance, especially during the busiest periods.
Ticket + guided tour of the Mezquita
If you want to deepen your visit to the Mezquita with an official tour guide who will accompany you throughout the tour, buy a ticket with a guided tour among the following that we offer.
