Mosque in Cordoba
The Mezquita is a former mosque converted into a cathedral, famous for its forest of red and white horseshoe arches. Entry is paid. Free entry Monday to Saturday 8:30-9:30 for silent visits (check current hours). The interior, with 856 columns creating an infinite perspective of arches, is one of the most extraordinary spaces in world architecture. Budget travelers visit during the free morning hour or pay the ticket for a building that has no equal anywhere.
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Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos is a 14th-century fortress with terraced gardens, reflecting pools, and the tower where Ferdinand and Isabella met Columbus before his first voyage. Entry is paid at a modest price (free on some mornings, check locally).
The Juderia (Jewish Quarter) is a maze of whitewashed alleys, flower-filled patios, and the only surviving medieval synagogue in Andalusia (free). Free to walk.
Cordoba's main commercial square and the hub of modern city life. Free to enjoy, the equestrian statue in the center and the surrounding early 20th-century architecture make it a pleasant stopping point between the old Jewish Quarter and the shopping streets.
The Roman Bridge spans the Guadalquivir River south of the Mezquita, a 16-arch stone bridge rebuilt multiple times since Roman times. Free to cross.
The remains of a 1st-century Roman temple with reconstructed Corinthian columns standing in a small square near the city hall. Free to view from the surrounding streets at any hour, the illuminated columns at night are one of Cordoba's most striking historical fragments.
Working out what Cordoba costs?
The whole of Cordoba