In the battle for the fate of the Iberian peninsula, one city stood as the final stronghold of Islamic rule, Granada. This is the story of how one of history's greatest power couples conquered its crown jewel, united their respective kingdoms, and funded voyages that led to the discovery of the Americas; transforming not only Spain but also the world. However, one cannot fully appreciate the city without learning about its bloody history. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale. Today's journey takes us from Seville to Granada; an enjoyable ride given Spain's highly connected and efficient rail system. In fact, Spain has the most extensive high-speed network in Europe, offering fast and convenient travel between major cities. I much prefer train rides / long drives to air travel. Apart from the considerably less stress involved, one gets to experience a little bit of the country more. And one has time to reflect and ponder, which are among my favorite past times...

At the center of the famous Spanish UNESCO World Heritage City of Cordoba stands an interesting structure known as the Mezquita; a building that has to be seen to be believed.  In a stunning reversal of the Muslim practice of converting captured churches into mosques, as with the case of Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock and Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, the Mezquita was the former Great Mosque of Al-Andalus.. turned into a grand Catholic cathedral! * Officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Mezquita looks nothing like your typical Christian place of worship. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale. * In fact, the Mezquita is one of the best examples of Moorish architecture, a very specific style of Islamic architecture popular across Southern Spain and Portugal, as well as North Africa. * Built in 784 AD under orders from the Emir of Cordoba, Abd al-Rahman I, the Mezquita is one of the crowning legacies of the Umayyad ...