The beautiful city of Cordoba was once the largest metropolis in
Western Europe. Remarkably, during its history the city has been
capital of a Roman Province (Hispana Ulterior), an Arab state
(Al-Andalus) and an Islamic state (Caliphate of Cordoba).
Cordoba is world-renowned today for its magnificent mosque, or
Mezquita, which was first built in the 8th century and
re-consecrated as a cathedral in the 13th century. The Old Town,
which surrounds the Mezquita, is a narrow maze of haphazardly
winding medieval streets. Within the Old Town are many of the
city's main attractions, including the beautiful Roman Bridge and
the fascinating Jewish Quarter.