We are back in Spain! We walked a lot around the city of Cordoba.
Cordoba began as a Roman settlement and by the 10th century had become one of the most important cities in Europe. When the Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula, they named this region Al-Andalus and made Cordoba its capital. Before the Muslims, Jews lived here.
Cordoba has a rich history, which is clear in its architecture. The influence of three different religions can be seen in one place. Here is a list of some of what we visited today: the Mezquita, the Synagogue, the Roman bridge and mausoleum, the Templar museum, the university, and a traditional house from the time of the Caliphate.
We were especially impressed by the Mezquita. This is a Roman Catholic cathedral that was once a mosque. The Mezquita is the largest mosque built in Europe. What we saw inside the cathedral left a strong impression on us! Some team members even said it was the most beautiful cathedral they have ever seen. We tried to capture the beauty of the interior with photos and videos, but seeing it in person is much more amazing.
First, there are many arches and columns that make you feel like you are walking through a mirror maze. Second, the ceiling is very grand and beautiful, with many figures, decorations, and patterns. Overall, we really enjoyed our time in Cordoba and were happy with our visit.
The next day, we walked in the Alhambra Garden in Granada. It is an architectural and park complex that includes ancient palaces, a fortress, and gardens of Muslim rulers, and it is considered the highest achievement of Moorish architects in Western Europe.
During the rule of the Nasrid dynasty (1230–1492), Granada became the capital of the Moorish lands in Spain—the Emirate of Granada.
The Moorish emirs wanted to create a piece of paradise on Spanish soil—so the Alhambra was built among the shady gardens of Granada.
Then we visited a filming location for the David Lean epic “Lawrence of Arabia" (the last photo). It’s an oasis in the Tabernas desert, created during the filming in 1962. The same palm trees that were brought from Elche to Alicante for the movie, along with a small eucalyptus forest, are still there.
The Lawrence of Arabia oasis is often used by other film companies for shooting.
To reach the oasis, we turned off the main road and drove off-road. We are used to this kind of travel, so we easily found what we were looking for. Among the desert scenery, the small oasis looks very striking.
It’s perhaps good that not many people know about this place. Because of this, it hasn’t been overly commercialized yet.
We spent some time enjoying nature. “Lawrence of Arabia” is not only one of the most respected war films but also a significant cinematic piece. The 1962 film won many awards, including Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. The American Film Institute ranked it fifth on its 100 Years…100 Movies list.