Cordoba

Cordoba's Mezquita-Catedral is one of the most astonishing buildings ever constructed — a vast Moorish mosque with 856 columns of jasper, marble, and granite that was later converted into a Christian cathedral, creating a breathtaking architectural hybrid. The medieval Jewish quarter surrounding it preserves flower-filled courtyards that come into full glory during the May Patio Festival. Cordoba was once the largest city in Western Europe during its Islamic golden age.