The Mosque-Cathedral, a thousand-year-old monument to coexistence

Probably if I start by saying that I recommend attending mass, my treasure won't scream ‘fun’ to most adventure-loving travelers, but let me assure you that this experience scored 3 M’s in my book –mesmerizing, moving and memorable.
In the winter of 2010, I took my first trip to Andalusia, in the beautiful south of Spain, and my plan included a few highlights, namely the jewels of what I call the “Andalusian trifecta”: The Giralda in Seville (the bell tower to the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world), The Alhambra in Granada (an amazing palace built in the Moorish/ Castilian style), and the Great Mosque of Cordoba, all named World Heritage sites by UNESCO. I wound up at the Tourist Office as soon as I arrived in Cordoba, and they gave me a “secret” tip: the best time to visit the Mosque is very early in the morning for two reasons –you save the entrance fee if you arrive before the morning mass and, more importantly, you get to visit it when it’s practically empty.
Sure enough, next morning at dawn, we marched down the few foggy streets that separated our hotel and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (such is the official name of the Mezquita-Catedral), and once we crossed the stunning gates, it was just my friend, me and a couple of camera-bearing Japanese tourists separated from the herd. Entering the Mosque felt like flying in a magic carpet into a dream-like scene, set in a forest of 900 columns and row after row of yellow and red brick arches that echoed the luxury and mystery of Arabian Nights.
As we described a hypnotic spiral path towards the center of the two-color maze, the architecture of the Mosque/ Cathedral -the operative ‘word’ being the dash here- was transformed right before our eyes, as if by a spell, in a white renaissance nave in the heart of the building, getting ready for the morning, old style, sung Catholic service. Both my friend and I decided to sit in the last bench and even though none of us is particularly devout, the whole experience was so mystical that brought tears to our eyes, especially thinking of the symbol of coexistence that this architectural gem -dating back to the Medieval days of Alfonse X, the Wise- represents, as if it were the embodiment of Lennon’s lyrics that resounded in my ears: “imagine all the people living life in peace”. Yes, you may say, I’m a dreamer, too, but don't miss this breath-taking monument in this extraordinary Spanish city that was once the cultural center of the Western world.