The Mosque of Cordoba, considered to be the most beautiful mosque in both the east and the west, was consecrated as a church in 1236, a few days after Fernhando III, the Holy, recaptured Cordoba. It was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and called Saint Mary Major (Santa María la Mayor).
The area around the Mosque-Cathedral, with its blend of building techniques and architectural and decorative elements from different periods and religions, clearly reflects the significance of the city in which it was built.
The Mosque of Cordoba graphically illustrates the cultural mosaic represented by this city, which aspires to be the European Capital of Culture in 2016.
