Travel for Life

Video 1.  Andalusia Travel―Visiting Roman Bridge and Tower (YouTube link ) Roman Bridge (Puente Romano de Córdoba) Córdoba’s famous Roman Bridge  (or Puente Romano⭐ ) dates from the 1st century BC and was extensively rebuilt in the 10th century during the Moorish occupation of the city. Sitting low over the opaque waters of the Guadalquivir, which flows down all the way through Andalusia and out into the Atlantic, it is supported by 17 stone arches, of which just two once belonged to the original structure. Calahorra Tower (Torre de la Calahorra) Dating from the late 1100s, the Cahalorra tower was constructed by the rulers of Moorish Córdoba to protect the Puente Romano – one of the city’s principal entrances – from invaders. It originally consisted of two towers separated by an iron gate but in the late 1300s a third, cylindrical tower was added by Henry II of Castile to better guard the bridge from an attack by his own brother. Nowadays it houses a sma...

Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs (YouTube link ) Córdoba’s  Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos  ⭐– ‘Castle of the Christian Kings’– is often overlooked in favor of the city’s most famous architectural landmark, the  Mosque-Cathedral . Yet this elegant Mudéjar palace is one of Córdoba’s most intriguing and attractive monuments. In my opinion, if you cannot visit Granada’s great  Alhambra , you can simply visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba and Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs.   Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba  is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of  Moorish architecture .  And,  Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs  whose gardens are a scaled-down version of those you also see in Granada’s great  Alhambra  fortress. Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos As its name suggests, the construction of this royal palace was ordered by the Catholic King Alfonso XI of Castile in 1328 but – as is so often the case in And...

Andalusia Travel―Visiting Plaza de España (YouTube link ) From Santa Cruz to the Plaza de España—A Ride Through Seville’s Living Masterpiece #spain #travel  (YouTube  link ) Seville’s iconic  Plaza de España  ⭐⭐ was built for the 1929 Ibero‑American Exhibition, serving as the grand centerpiece of the event. Set within the expansive  María Luisa Park , the plaza was designed to showcase Spain’s achievements in industry, craftsmanship, and architecture through a series of impressive pavilions. Today, the Plaza de España remains an essential stop for any visitor to Seville—a place whose beauty and scale leave a lasting impression. It stands as a remarkable example of Regionalist architecture, blending Baroque Revival, Renaissance Revival, and  Neo-Mudéjar  influences into a single, harmonious masterpiece. Its sweeping semi‑circular design curves around a tranquil canal crossed by four elegant bridges, each symbolizing one of Spain’s ancient kingdoms. Alon...

Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral  ⭐⭐⭐—a stunning monument to the two religions and cultures that shaped Andalusia, Islam and Christianity—features a Renaissance church atop what was once the Islamic kingdom's most important mosque. This makes the building a must-see for anyone visiting  Córdoba . Video 1.  Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba (YouTube  link ) Historic Centre of Cordoba ―a UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984, the Great Mosque of Cordoba saw its designation extended in 1994 to encompass part of the Historic Centre, including the Alcázar (fortress). The expansion further included areas south to the banks of the Guadalquivir River, incorporating the  Roman Bridge  and the Calahorra Tower . Photo Gallery I visited this beautiful Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba on December 29, 2019. It is one of the most photogenic sites I have ever visited in Spain. Re...