Travel with Julie

Roman Bridge Of Cordoba

It seems like you can't go anywhere in Europe without encountering something Roman!  Spain included. In particular, Roman bridges have stood the test of time like this one in Cordoba.

This Roman bridge was built under emperor Augustus and spans over the Guadalquivir River.  It leads directly into the Mezquita Mosque.

Once a part of an important Roman commercial and military route, the bridge played a key role in protecting the city against attacks.  Today, it is a promenade with one end dressed to introduce the new town with the Calahorra tower, and the other end connecting to the old quarter.

In the middle of the bridge is a statue of San Rafael, the patron of Cordoba.  The statue was created in 1651.

Crossing the bridge allows wonderful views of the historic city walls, the Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral, the remains of a Moorish mill, and the Triumphal Arch.

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Cordoba's Fortress

You would think that once you have seen a few fortresses, you have seen them all.  Not true.  Cordoba's 8th-century fortress, the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, is a complex of buildings and gardens that impress as much today as it did for monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.

Monarchs held court here for nearly 160 years.  It is the place where Christopher Columbus presented his plans to find westward sea route to India.  Today, it is a cultural heritage.

The entire complex is encircled by massive walls and three towers:  Lion's Tower, River Tower, and Allegiance Tower.  Climbing to the top will give you a thrilling view of the town, river and Roman bridge.

Most impressive are the magnificent gardens with manicured hedges, spitting fountains, glorious pools, and royal statues.  It is a peaceful and beautiful walk -- it wasn't difficult to imagine how Queen Isabella felt spending lovely afternoons in her lavish, lush backyard!

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Cordoba's Mosque

At this point in my travels, I have seen so many cathedrals and churches that few truly leave me inspired and amazingly impressed.  When I stepped through the doors of Cordoba's Great Mosque, La Mezquita, a "wo-o-o-o-ow" escaped from my mouth with a lengthened expression, and I knew I had entered into a place of special significance.

La Mezquita was once a jewel of Islamic civilization, later taken over by Christians through conquest. Building began in 785 with additions added over time, making the mosque one of the largest in the world.  Its existance signifies that a large Muslim community lived in Cordoba, Spain.

From the streets outside, the mosque is deceptively concealed by solid walls that give it a military look.  Inside the walls is the Courtyard of the Orange Trees where orange trees grow among palms and cypresses for a peaceful reprieve from the surrounding busy streets.  In one corner, a bell tower rises above the courtyard with a distinctive Renaissance appearance--it was added in 1593.

After the Christian forces captured Cordoba in 1236, 30 or more side chapels with small altars were erected.  In effect, two different religions represented in one building.

 

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Seville's Royal Palace

The beautiful residence built in the year 913 was chosen as the home of many monarchs in the centuries that followed.  Today, it is the home of His Royal Majesty Juan Carlos when he visits Seville.

The palace, known as the Alcazar--a palace-fortress built by the Arabs during the time of the Moorish invasion, has astonishing architecture, courtyards and gardens.  The gardens make up one of the oldest sites of this Spanish crown. They are the most original representation of a Mudejar style, a Muslim expression adapted to the Christian world.  In these gardens, you find tile works, water channels, fountains, water spouts and more.

The interior of the building is arranged around two courtyards, the courtyard of Las Doncellas (The Courtyard of the Maidens) where official life took place, and the Las Munecas courtyard for private life.  Both quite impressive.  Another impressive area is the Hall of Ambassadors with brightly painted archways and topped by a dramatic domed ceiling.

While not as large and sprawling as some of the other palaces in Spain, the Alcazar of Seville is considered one of the loveliest.

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Kilometre Zero in Madrid

All roads lead to Rome . . . except in Spain where all roads lead to Madrid! Many countries have a zero mile marker, a particular location from which distances are traditionally measured.  Spain's Kilometre Zero is in the center of Puerta del Sol in Madrid--the figurative center of Spain.

The marker is planted in the pavement in front of the Royal House of the Post Office. The marker echoes the semi-circular shape of the square itself, which is meant to look like the rising sun with the streets radiating from it as its rays.

It's not a big marker and easy to miss.  One sure way of finding it is to look for a group of tourists huddled together looking down at their feet--it's sure to be it!

 

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