Day 05 - Cordoba West

After a brief siesta in the afternoon I took off towards the western side of Cordoba. This first picture is the little plaza just outside my hotel. This is what I get to look at every time I leave my hotel. 

Iglesia de Santa Victoria

The Mezquita is my second most awaited destination in Spain after the Alhanbra in Granada. Here is a couple quick shots from the outside on my way to another site. I will be spending a lot of time here tomorrow afternoon. Check back for more details. 

The Roman style bridge crossing the Guadalquivir River.

Here is a portion of the old city wall. I can't remember if this wall dates from the Roman or Muslim era. Maybe it's from the Christians. I'm just not so sure because they've all had their hands in creating what this city is today that they all just get mixed up. 

Averroes was a 12th century Muslim philosopher, theologian, and scientist who challenged the religious dogma of the day and helped bring the classical teachings of Greece and Rome into the modern age while the European Christians had chosen to slip into darkness throughout the rest of Europe. The modern western civilization that we have come to know owes a great deal to the enlightened Muslims in the Middle Ages such as Averroes. 

One of the original city gates dating from Roman times. Passing through this gate will lead into the Jewish quarter. 

Roman mausoleum from the 1st century AD. It was discovered in 1993 during an archaeological excavation. 

Here you can see one of the original Roman roads leading into the city from the west to the east. It lies several meters below the modern street level. Looking at it from this angle it almost looks like you are looking from the past down the road into the present city of Cordoba.