Once the second-largest mosque in the world, the great Mezquita of Cordoba is a stunning example of Byzantine Islamic art that flourished under the Umayyad dynasty. Built in the eighth century by Abd ar Rahman, the building today is most noted for its red and white arches, over 1000 of them, made of jasper, onyx, marble and granite.

The great mosque at Cordoba, the one-time capital of the Umayyads in Andalusia	The grand portal leads to the Patio de los Naranjos (orange garden)

The mosque combines a unique blend of Persian, Syrian, Roman, Gothic and Byzantine styles.		The mosque was built atop a church, so the building embodies a fusion of Christian and Islamic motifs.

		The grand cupola in the prayer area or mihrab

			The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Christian monarchs' fortress is resplendent with flower gardens, arrayed fountains, topiaries and koi ponds

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