Cordoba is located on the Rio Guadalquiver in the southern part of Spain. The city is quaint and isolated by an enclosed wall. The only entrance to the city proper is over the Roman Bridge. Cordoba has a Jewish quarter that dates back to the 10th century. This area, which is made up of closely aligned houses and cobblestone paths, can only be traveled by foot. Within the Jewish sector lies the third (of three) surviving synagogues in Spain. This small place of worship is from the 14th century and its interior is decorated in Hebrew script.

Outside of the Jewish region, the two sights that attracted us were the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Mezquita. The Alcazar was a fortress built in the 14th century. The building of the fortress contains many galleries and halls with richly decorated walls (i.e., with mosaics). Outside of the building, there are beautiful gardens, water terraces, and fountains which provide a fabulous atmosphere for relaxing. The Mezquita was originally built in the late 700's by the greatest power of Islam on the Iberian Peninsula. The interior of the cathedral is lined with more than 850 columns that support white and red horseshoe arches. The prayer niches, such as the Mihrab, are richly decorated with carved designs and colors. [I]

Sights to See:
Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
The Mezquita