Arrival in Cordoba: Roman bridges, Arab waterwheels and ornately decorated gates

Molino de la Albolafia - Moorish mill and water wheel

Thursday, October 31, 2019           Cordoba

Happy Halloween – interesting that there are almost no signs of the holiday in Spain. This morning we drove to Cordoba,  which took about 90 minutes.  We walked into the old section of the city, and met our guide, Lola, another comedian and good story teller. 

Cordoba was a major center of trade, at one time the largest city in Europe, 

eclipsing Constantinople. The bus dropped us off just outside main gate to 

old town, next to Guadalquivir River. As we walked after getting off the bus, 

we were walking along the wall of the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos 

(the Christian Kings) – which houses a castle and extensive gardens and 

now serves as a city administrative unit. 

This mill and waterwheel were built during the Moorish times, but refurbished to supply water to the Alcazar

A number of mills and waterwheels were located along the Guadalquivir River - this is the only one still standing

The Roman Bridge - first constructed during the 1st century BC

Anhingas sunning in the Guadalquivir River, the Calahorra Tower at the far end of the Roman Bridge

The Guadalquivir river was once wide enough for vessels to travel to Cordoba, 

and there used to be a number of mills along the river. The ruins of a mill and 

water wheel – the  Molino de la Albolafia – was a prominent feature along our 

walk. I read that the Muslims used it to provide water to the old Almohad Palace and the Alcazar Palace Gardens, but Isabella, the Catholic queen, had it taken down so as to avoid its annoying squeaking noise. 

We walked along the Roman bridge of Cordoba, which was originally built 

in the early 1^st century BC across the Guadalquivir River. It has been 

reconstructed at various times since and most of the present structure dates 

from the Moorish reconstruction in the 8^th century. In the middle ages, the Calahorra Tower and the Puerta del Puente were built at the bridge’s 

southern and northern ends.

 

The Puerta del Puente, entrance into the city, constructed in the 16th century

The architect for this arch is the same that designed the cathedral built within the existing mosque

The SW corner of the Mezquita - the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba

We entered the city at the Puerta del Puente, which was constructed In the sixteenth century, when the authorities decided to improve the condition of the entrance to the city due to the deteriorated state of the existing gate. 

We walked passed the exterior walls of the Alcazar and the large column dedicated to the Archangel Raphael, who is a protector of the city of Cordoba.  Along the way we passed many horse drawn carriages, ready to offer a tour of the old city, as we walked past the SW corner of La Mezquita, as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is called.  We followed the along the west facade of the exterior of the Mezquita as we walked up Torrijos street to meet our guide in front of the Episcopal Palace and the San Sebastian Hospital.

Archangel Raphael, protector of the city of Cordoba

Horse carriage drivers waiting to take tourists on rides on Torrijos Street, Episcopal Palace on (l), Mezquita on (r)

Beautiful entrance to San Sebastian Hospital (now a conference center)

Looking south on Torrijos Street - Mosque on (l), Raphael pillar & Episcopal Palace tower (c),  San Sebastian Hospital (r)

The Door of Saint Stephen, oldest in the Mosque, on the western facade

Door of Saint Ildephonsus and the Archangel Raphael column

Most ornately decorated door on the west facade