About Córdoba, Spain:
In 711 AD Muslim forces from North Africa conquered the Iberian Peninsula, ushering in Al-Andalus (Muslim rule of the Iberian Peninsula). It was a combination of of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities living in relative harmony, a period known as the “Convivencia” (co-existence). It was also a time when Córdoba became a center of learning,
Christian kingdoms in northern Spain began the Reconquista in 1236 AD, a centuries-long campaign to reclaim Iberian lands. After the Reconquista, the Great Mosque of Córdoba was converted into a cathedral, symbolizing the shift to Christian dominance.
Under Christian rule, the relative harmony did not last and much of the Muslim and Jewish population either left or faced persecution.
Córdoba became a regional center in the Kingdom of Castile but never regained its former grandeur. with its economy tied to agriculture, particularly olive oil and wine.
Catholic places of interest in Córdoba, Spain:
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba, “the mosque cathedral”): symbol of the city’s blended Islamic and Christian heritage.