In awe of an empire

Andalusia in Spain is steeped in history and tourist attractions. traces its rich history via Cordoba, Seville and Granada

IWALK on the Roman bridge or El Puento Romano that connects the modern city of Cordoba with the old city that was founded by the Romans but only reached its height during the Islamic Spain. For the Romans, Cordoba was an important port for shipping olive oil, wine and wheat to ancient Rome due its position at the highest navigable point of Guadalquivir River.

For the Moors or Muslims of Spain, it was the capital of Muslim Spain called Al-Andalus or what we know today as Andalusia.

The Andalusia first began as the vassal province of Umayyad Caliphate that ruled from Damascus, Syria.

Later, when the Umayyad was overthrown by Abbasid, the last Prince of Umayyad, Abdul ar-Rahman 1 fled to Andalusia and established an independent kingdomship of Andalusia based in Cordoba as Caliphate of Cordoba.

This pedestrian bridge is testimony of that great era as it was first built by the Romans in 1st Century B.C. and later rebuilt by the Moors in the year 712. The arches that feature Moorish architecture still remain today.

I enter the old city of Cordoba through Gate of the Bridge, a Roman gate known as Bab al-Qantara during the Islamic era and find myself under the shadow of Great Mosque or Mezquita.

The Mezquita was ordered to be built by Abdul ar-Rahman 1 to symbolise the independence of Andalusia. Its construction began in 786 on the site of Basilica of Saint Vincent which was bought from the Christians for 100,000 dinars.

The Caliphate of Cordoba reached its zenith during the 10th Century, during the reign of Abdul ar-Rahman 111 from year 912 to 962.

Cordoba at that time was the largest and most prosperous city in Europe, even surpassing Byzantium and Baghdad in science, culture and art.

Parallel with these heights, the Great Mosque was enlarged three times by different caliph. Until today, it is the epicentre of Cordoba.

Although still commonly referred to as a mosque, it is actually a cathedral. Its formal name is Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and it is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

I catch a glimpse of its famous rows of red and white arches above 850 pillars made from granite and jasper.

There is a mihrab which is richly decorated with gilded Quranic verses and geometric patterns. The conversion of the mosque into a cathedral took place almost immediately after Cordoba was conquered by King Fernando 111 in 1236.

However, it was almost unaltered until 1523 when the main altar hall, Capilla Mayor, was built inside the mosque.

Its construction took nearly 250 years. When it was completed in 1766, the result were the beautiful renaissance-style cathedral squats in the centre of the mosque.

Before falling to Christianity, Cordoba was in a declining state, both in territory and prestige.

It started in the year 976 when Caliphate Al Hakam 11 died, leaving his 11-year-old son, Hisham, as successor.

Too young to rule, the power was entrusted to Al Mansur who ruled in the manner of a military dictatorship.

When Al Mansur died, rebellion and civil war happened, resulting in Andalusia breaking into several smaller independent states called Taifa that were at war with each other.

Such a situation led to Andalusia lands being conquered by Christians from the North.

The Taifa period ended when the Almarovid Empire from North Africa intervened. It resisted the Christian advance and, by military means, put Andalusia under its rule.

Most of the lands lost to Christian were never regained. Two-thirds of lands in the Iberia Peninsular during the Caliphate of Cordoba were reduced to half. Almarovid was later overthrown by the Almohad that subsequently ruled Andalusia.

In Cordoba, the noticeable landmark left by Almohad is the

Calahorra Tower at the head of the Roman Bridge on the other side of the

Guadalquivir riverbank.

It was a defence tower whose original two towers were connected by an arched gate.