Journey to Cordoba

Bit of an early start for us - up and out by 9.30 to walk to the station. The first train to Seville was an ordinary Media Distancia train but still very comfortable. The second was the high speed train from Seville to Madrid travelling at over 250km per hour - very smooth and showing movies on TV screens! Our hotel is right beside the Mezquita and after changing rooms we have a view of its outer walls. It is a beautiful and serene building despite being a major tourist attraction. The first part of the mosque was built by the Moors in the 8C AD on top of a Visigoth cathedral which was built on top of a Roman temple. In 2017 they uncovered some Roman mosaics under the floor and you can now see them under a glass panel in the floor. Added to in subsequent centuries it was then ruined in the 16C after the reconquest when they plonked a cathedral in the middle of it. The mihrab dating from the 10C has wonderful mosaics done by craftsmen loaned by the Byzantine emperor.Lue lisää