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Day 7 - Granada
Once capital of the Western world, Cordoba was founded by the ancient Romans at the highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River, where it was easiest to ship olive oil, wheat, and wine back to Rome. It was after its conquest by the Moors in AD 711, however, that the city grew to become the largest in the world. Today, Cordoba is best known for its most famous landmark, the Mezquita (Great Mosque) - the third-largest mosque in the world. The Mezquita was built during the tenth century, while Cordoba was in its glory as the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in Europe, and an important center for science, education, and the arts. In AD 929, the Cordoba region broke away from the Islamic center, Baghdad, and formed its own independent kingdom, falling into anarchy shortly afterward. The city was conquered in 1236 by King Ferdinand, a Christian who had the mosque consecrated and constructed a cathedral in the middle of it, while still preserving the remarkable beauty of the original structure. During your escorted tour of Spain's historic cultural capital, you'll find that Cordoba is often a study in contrasts: Moorish and Christian, old and new. You'll pass by a reconstruction of the original Roman Bridge and enter the synagogue - the only ancient synagogue still standing in Spain outside Toledo. You'll also stroll through the Juderia (Jewish Quarter), admiring the famous Andalucian patios of pretty ceramics, iron grilles, and plants. Your tour culminates at the Mezquita. Here you'll stroll through the courtyard, filled with orange trees and fountains, to the entryway, where you'll be greeted by 850 stunning granite and marble arches of various colors, illuminated by sunlight streaming through the cupolas. At the center of the mosque, find the 16th-century Renaissance cathedral with its mahogany pulpits and choir stalls. Surrounding the cathedral, the mosque remains largely untouched since the eleventh century, revealing some of the finest Islamic architecture in Spain. After your tour, you'll have time to find lunch on your own and make your own discoveries in Cordoba before moving on to Torremolinos. You'll arrive at your hotel later in the day. Dinner is on your own tonight. Please note: The synagogue may be closed on select departures, at which time only the exterior will be available for viewing. Breakfast Meals included: Breakfast. |
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4/16/18 |
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Cordoba
Travel to Spain's southern coast after
breakfast, stopping along the way for an
included walking tour of beautiful Cordoba, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.