This is a list of former mosques in Spain. It lists former Muslim mosques (Arabic: Masjid, Spanish: Mezquita) and Islamic places of worship that were located within the modern borders of Spain. Most of these mosques are from the Al-Andalus period. For a list of open, functioning mosques in Spain see list of mosques in Spain.
The term former mosque in this list includes any Muslim mosque (building) or site used for Islamic Prayer (Salah) in Al-Andalus but is not so any longer.
These former mosques were used as Muslim places of worship during the Al-Andalus period from 711 AD to 1492 AD when various Muslim Moorish kingdoms ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Most of these former mosques and religious buildings were either converted into churches or demolished after the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula (the Reconquista). [1]
Mosques were an integral part of Al-Andalus social, political and cultural spheres. With the exception of the remnants of the 10th century Great Mosque of Cordoba, there is very little documentation available in English language about these old historical mosques.
There are only estimates about the number of these mosques. However, there seem to have existed possibly thousands of mosques in Muslim Spain. [2] According to one estimate, there were 3,000 mosques, baths and palaces in Cordoba alone. This was during the 10th century, when Cordoba was one of the largest cities in the world and had over 250,000 buildings spread across an area of twenty four miles long and six miles wide. Today these old mosques in Cordoba are lost without a trace with the exception of the Great Mosque of Cordoba and a few other ruins and remains like the Minaret of San Juan. [3]
At one time there were 137 mosques in the Medina of Grenada when it was the capital city of the Emirate of Granada (1230-1492). [4] During this period the Medina (city) of Granada was one of the largest cities in Europe and welcomed large number of Muslims seeking refuge after being expelled from the Christian controlled areas. This influx doubled its size, and by 1450 made Granada the largest city in Europe in terms of population. [5]
The proliferation of mosques was not limited to large cities. Small cities and towns had multiple mosques built for the easy and quick access of the faithful to perform their daily five times Islamic prayers (Salah) in congregation. There were 18 mosques in Jerez city, of which only the mosque within the fortress of Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera survives today. [1] There were 16 mosques in Vélez-Málaga (then known as Ballis Medina) during the Nazari Granada Emirate period. [6] Ronda a smaller town had 7 or 8 mosques of which today only a minaret tower of a medium-size mosque remains. [7] About 5 former mosques still exist in Toledo with the original structures at least partially preserved, as shown in the list below.
This table lists former mosques in Al-Andalus with identified original buildings or ruins of the former mosque still existing on the premises.
Note: Mesquita means mosque in the Spanish language.
Current Name | Mosque Name | Images | City | Province | Year Opened | Year Closed | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba | Great Mosque of Córdoba (Qurṭuba), Aljama Mosque | Córdoba | Andalusia | early 8th century | 1236 | After the Muslim conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom (710~), the site of former main Visigothic church of Cordoba was divided and shared between Muslims and Christians for seven decades. Later Abd al-Rahman I purchased Christian part and built the great mosque in 785. [8] Major extensions were added in 9th and 10th centuries, until final extension by in 10th century under Almanzor. After Christians captured Cordoba in 1236, King Ferdinand III of Castile converted the mosque into a cathedral. Later, a cathedral was built at the center of the old mosque, configuring the current Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. It was the second largest mosque in the world after Mecca Great mosque from the around 9th century, until Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul was built in 1588. It had a surface area of 23,400 square metres (2.34 ha) and accommodated an estimated 32,000 to 40,000 worshipers. Current mosque structure date from 784 to 987. [1] | [1] [9] | |
Mosque of Cristo de la Luz | Mezquita Bab-al-Mardum | Toledo | Castilla–La Mancha | 999 | 1186 | Converted into a church. One of the best preserved Moorish mosques in Spain. [1] | [1] [9] | |
Giralda | Great Mosque of Seville | Seville | Andalusia | 1248 | Only minaret remains. Mosque comparable in size to Great mosque of Cordoba, destroyed by earthquake in 1365. Minaret used as a church bell tower was built higher in 16th century. | [1] | ||
Almonaster la Real Mosque | Almonaster la Real | Andalusia | 10th century | Built on site of 5th century Visigoth basilica. Converted into a Church after Reconquista. National Monument since 1931. | [1] [9] | |||
Mezquita del Alcázar de Jerez la Frontera | Jerez de la Frontera (Jerez) | Andalusia | 11th century | mid 13th century | Located within former Moorish fortress of Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera. Only surviving mosque building of 18 former mosques in the Jerez city. Converted into church after Reconquista. | [1] [9] | ||
Mosque of las Tornerías | Al-Mustimim | Toledo | Castilla–La Mancha | 1060 [10] | Unusual two-storied mosque. Was built in a busy commercial neighborhood (Arrabal de Francos). Used as a church until 1498–1505, and other uses since. Restoration and preservation done recently. | [9] [10] [11] | ||
Mezquita de Tórtoles | Tarazona | Aragon | 15th century | Mosque remains almost not altered in the later centuries. Current building was built in 2 stages, one early 15th century, other late 15th century. It is attached to the remains of the old fortified tower of town castle. Converted into a church in 1526. | [12] | |||
Aljama Mosque of Medina Azahara | Aljama Masjid of Madinat al-Zahra | Córdoba | Andalusia | 940 | 1010 | A mosque in Madinat al-Zahra, a vast, fortified Moorish palace-city built by Abd-ar-Rahman III (912–961). The marbled, jeweled complex was plundered & destroyed first by Muslims, then by Christians when civil war ended Caliphate of Córdoba. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018. | [13] | |
San Sebastián de Toledo | Al-Dabbagin Masjid | Toledo | Castilla–La Mancha | 1085~ | Converted into a church after 1085 Christian conquest of area. Renovated several times but original interior structure remains. Building now used as a concert & exhibition hall. Bell tower built in 15th century shows characteristics of former minaret. Ruins of Arab Baths of Tenerías remain lower below on slope. [14] A short reference to mosque exist by Ibn Baskuwal (1101–83) reported by Fath ibn Ibrahim. [15] | [14] [15] | ||
Small Royal mosque inside Aljafería Palace | Zaragoza | Aragon | 10th century | Located inside the great fortified palace. A small octagonal mosque, designed as a private oratory for the king and his family. Mosque architecture inspired by Córdoba mosque. Aljafería is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986. [16] | [16] | |||
Iglesia de El Salvador, Toledo | Toledo | Castilla–La Mancha | 9th century | 1085 | Mosque built on former Visigoth or Roman substrate. Now a rebuilt church but excavations revealed 9th century structures & elements of mosque - horseshoe arch arcade, primitive stone minaret, flooring, courtyard with cistern. [17] [18] | [17] [18] | ||
Alminar de Árchez, Alminar Mudéjar (Mudejar Minaret of Árchez) | Masjid al-Ta`ibin, Mezquita de los Conversos [19] (Mosque of convert) | Árchez | Andalusia | 14th century | Only 15 meter tall minaret remains, used as belfry of Árchez church built on mosque location. Minaret is an Almohade architecture monument and only remaining jewel of Nazarí period. [20] | [20] | ||
San Sebastian Minaret (Alminar De San Sebastian) | Ronda | Andalusia | 1485 | Only minaret of the medium-size mosque in Plaza Abul Beka neighborhood remains. Minaret was expanded and used as a bell tower. The mosque was converted to a church but destroyed in 1600s during Morisco Revolts. Ronda was a Muslim city for 700 years. The city had 7 or 8 mosques, none survive today. [7] | [7] | |||
Alminar de San Juan (Minaret of San Juan) | Córdoba | Andalusia | 930 | Only minaret remains of mosque built in 930 during 1st Spanish Umayyad caliph 'Abd al-Rahman III. Now its belfry of San Juan church. [21] | [21] | |||
Iglesia de Santiago del Arrabal, Toledo | Toledo | Castilla–La Mancha | Converted to church in 1223–25. Caliphate era minaret survives. Church is a Mudéjar style masterpiece, built in 1245–47 on prior structures of a mosque and Visigoth building. [22] | [22] | ||||
Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Benaque, Macharaviaya) | Macharaviaya | Andalusia | One of few preserved mosques with original minaret and solid block building built of brick & masonry. Interior single rectangular prayer hall now a church nave. Drilling Mecca facing wall in 2003 showed original mosque construction and 19th century work. Reconquista era document says "...While it was the visitation and reformation of the houses in the alcayua (or alamiya) in Benaque, the inhabitants used mosque as a parish church, where they had images and heard Mass..." . [23] [24] | [23] | ||||
This table lists former mosques in Al-Andalus with no known surviving mosque buildings. The original mosques were completely destroyed by people, war or by natural causes like earthquakes. Other structures were built on the site destroying or covering traces of the mosque. The ruins and stone materials of the mosque were often reused to build the new structures. However these sites may still contain undiscovered original structures within the current buildings or un-excavated ruins on the premises.
Current Name | Mosque Name | Location image | Location | Year Opened | Year Closed | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza | Aljama de Saraqusta, Mezquita Mayor de Zaragoz (Great Mosque of Zaragoza) | Zaragoza | 714-716 | 1119 | One of the largest & oldest mosques in Al-Andalus. Enlarged later to 54 × 86 meters. Looked like Cordoba great mosque. First built by Hanas ben Abdallah as San’ani, a disciple of prophet Muahmmad according to al-Humauydí. Converted to Cathedral despite another Cathedral very near used by Christians during Moorish rule. Minaret lasted till 17th century. Restoration in 1999, revealed mosque size, entrance location etc. [25] [26] | [25] [26] | |
Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador | Mosque of Ibn Abbas | Seville | 830 or earlier | 1340 | The original "Great Mosque" of Seville, before the 12th century mosque built by the Almohads (which in turn is now occupied by the Cathedral). It was also known as the Mosque of Ibn Abbas. It was either built or expanded by Abd ar-Rahman II in 830, as recorded in an inscription that has been preserved in one of the city's museums. The mosque had a very similar format to the early Great Mosque of Cordoba: a courtyard to the north and a prayer hall to the south divided into 11 naves by rows of arches, with the central nave in front of the mihrab being slightly wider. The minaret was located on the north side of the courtyard and had a square base measuring 5.88 metres per side. After the Christian conquest of Seville, the mosque continued to be reserved for Muslims for a time, until 1340 when it was converted to a church. The original building deteriorated over time until in 1674 it was demolished and construction of a new Baroque church was begun. The present-day church preserves only minor traces of the mosque. [27] [28] : 46–47 [29] [30] | ||
Iglesia de San Nicolás, Madrid | Aljama mosque of Mayrit | Madrid | Current oldest church in Madrid dating back to 1202. It was built over a mosque of what was then called Mayrit. Archaeologists believe that the 12th century bell tower was originally a minaret. Tower in Moorish Arabic Mudéjar architecture. The Muslims lost Madrid in 1085. [31] [32] [33] | [31] [32] | |||
Granada Cathedral | Nasrid Great Mosque of Granada | Granada | Emirate of Granada, last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula fell in 1492. Granada Cathedral began in 1505 on the site of the city's main mosque. [34] Royal Chapel of Granada is built over the former terrace of the Great Mosque. | [34] | |||
Basílica de Santa María de la Asunción | Arcos de la Frontera | Church was built in 15th-16th century on the remains of a Moorish mosque. Site dates back to 8th-9th century. [35] | [35] | ||||
Baza Cathedral | Baza | Cathedral was built on the site of an old mosque in 16th century. [36] Baza was under Moorish rule from 713 to 1489 AD with a population of 50,000. [37] | [36] | ||||
Guadix Cathedral | Al-Hama mosque [38] | Guadix | Principle mosque of Guadix when Muslims ruled it from 711 to 1489. Mosque built over a Visigoth temple. Cathedral began construction over mosque in 1710. [39] | [38] | |||
Santa Catalina, Valencia | Valencia | 13th century | Converted into church shortly after the reconquista in the 13th century. Church was rebuilt several times since. [40] | [40] | |||
Valencia Cathedral | Valencia | Originally a Roman temple, it was turned into a Visigothic cathedral, then into a mosque under Moors. Converted into a cathedral in 1238 after the Reconquista and rebuilt later. [41] [42] | [42] | ||||
Iglesia de San Román, Toledo, (Museum of the Councils of Toledo) | Toledo | 13th century Mudéjar style rebuilt church. Contains traces of a Caliphate mosque, primitive Visigoth Church pillars and possible prior Roman building. Groups of three, toral arches like in a caliphate mosque prayer hall and two parts in Mudejar bell tower indicate a previous Islamic minaret base. [43] [44] | [43] [44] | ||||
Old Cathedral of Lleida | Lleida | 882 | 1149 | In 882 on this hill, Moors reordered defenses over a previous Visigoth structure and built the Zuda along with a mosque. Following the Reconquista, the mosque was converted into a Cathedral. [45] 2 fornículas rescued from old city mosque place on a cathedral door. | [45] | ||
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Alfacar) | Mimbar de Alfacar | Alfacar | 1500 | Arab mosque consecrated after revolt in 1500 and a primitive church built on its foundations. Current church built in Mudejar style in 1557. At the decline of the Muslim era, the town consisted of 980 people and 245 houses. [46] [47] | [46] [47] | ||
Church of Santa Maria de Tarifa | Tarifa | Church was built end of 13th century over mosque remains. Four columns and part of the coffered ceiling of the mosque are preserved. [48] | |||||
Iglesia de San Mateo (Tarifa) | Tarifa | Old mosque within premises of town's Alcazar fortification. Current church built in 1506 on remains of a mosque. [49] | |||||
Granada is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro. Ascribed to the Vega de Granada comarca, the city sits at an average elevation of 738 m (2,421 ft) above sea level, yet is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, the Costa Tropical. Nearby is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, where the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held.
Córdoba, or sometimes Cordova, is a city in Andalusia, Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. It is the third most populated municipality in Andalusia.
The Mozarabs, or more precisely Andalusi Christians, were the Christians of al-Andalus, or the territories of Iberia under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492. Following the Umayyad conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom in Hispania, the Christian population of much of Iberia came under Muslim control.
Al-Andalus was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The term is used by modern historians for the former Islamic states in modern Spain, Portugal, and France. The name describes the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most of the peninsula and part of present-day southern France (Septimania) under Umayyad rule. These boundaries changed constantly through a series of conquests Western historiography has traditionally characterized as the Reconquista, eventually shrinking to the south and finally to the Emirate of Granada.
The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, officially known by its ecclesiastical name of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Córdoba dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and located in the Spanish region of Andalusia. Due to its status as a former mosque, it is also known as the Mezquita and as the Great Mosque of Córdoba.
Mudéjar art, or Mudéjar style, was a type of ornamentation and decoration used in the Iberian Christian kingdoms, primarily between the 13th and 16th centuries. It was applied to Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles as constructive, ornamental and decorative motifs derived from those that had been brought to or developed in Al-Andalus. These motifs and techniques were also present in the art and crafts, especially Hispano-Moresque lustreware that was once widely exported across Europe from southern and eastern Spain at the time.
The Emirate of Córdoba or Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba was a medieval Islamic kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula.
Mexico is a predominantly Christian country, with adherents of Islam representing a small minority. Due to the secular nature of the state established by Mexico's constitution, Muslims are free to proselytize and build places of worship in the country. The country has a population of around 126 million as of 2020 census and according to the Pew Research Center, the Muslim population was 60,000 in 1980, 111,000 in 2010, and is predicted to be 126,000 in 2030; however, according to the 2010 National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) census, there were only 2,500 individuals who identified Islam as their religion. Most Muslims are foreign nationals and the majority are Sunni.
Spanish architecture refers to architecture in any area of what is now Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings which were constructed within the current borders of Spain prior to its existence as a nation, when the land was called Iberia, Hispania, or was divided between several Christian and Muslim kingdoms. Spanish architecture demonstrates great historical and geographical diversity, depending on the historical period. It developed along similar lines as other architectural styles around the Mediterranean and from Central and Northern Europe, although some Spanish constructions are unique.
The Albaicín, also known as Albayzín, is a district of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. It is centered around a hill on the north side of the Darro River which passes through the city. The neighbourhood is notable for its historic monuments and for largely retaining its medieval street plan dating back to the Nasrid period, although it nonetheless went through many physical and demographic changes after the end of the Reconquista in 1492. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1994, as an extension of the historic site of the nearby Alhambra.
Moorish architecture is a style within Islamic architecture which developed in the western Islamic world, including al-Andalus and what is now Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Scholarly references on Islamic architecture often refer to this architectural tradition in terms such as architecture of the Islamic West or architecture of the Western Islamic lands. The use of the term "Moorish" comes from the historical Western European designation of the Muslim inhabitants of these regions as "Moors". Some references on Islamic art and architecture consider this term to be outdated or contested.
The Mosque of Cristo de la Luz is a Catholic chapel and former mosque in Toledo, Spain. It is the one of the ten that existed in the city during the Moorish period. The edifice was then known as Mezquita Bab-al-Mardum, deriving its name from the city gate Bab al-Mardum. It is located near the Puerta del Sol, in an area of the city once called Medina where wealthy Muslims used to live.
The Taifa of Granada or Zirid Kingdom of Granada was a Berber Muslim kingdom that was formed in al-Andalus in 1013 following the deposition of Caliph Hisham II in 1009. The kingdom was centered on Granada, its capital, and it also extended its control to Málaga for a period. Four kings succeeded each other during its nearly 80 years of existence, all of them belonging to an offshoot of the Zirid dynasty of North Africa, a Sanhaja Berber clan. The Taifa of Granada was considered to be the wealthiest out of all of the taifa kingdoms. It was eventually conquered by the Almoravids in 1090, putting an end to Zirid rule in Granada.
San Sebastian is a redundant church in Toledo, Spain. Originally a mosque, it was converted for use as church after the Reconquista. It is protected by the heritage listing Bien de Interés Cultural.
The Iglesia de El Salvador is a church in Toledo, Spain completed in 1159.
Since the early 2000s, Muslims in Spain have lobbied the Catholic Church to permit Muslim prayer in the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. According to traditional accounts a Visigothic church, the Catholic Christian Basilica of Vincent of Saragossa, originally stood on the site of the current Mosque-Cathedral, although the historicity of this narrative has been questioned by scholars. After Córdoba came under Muslim control during the era of Al-Andalus, the current building was begun on this site in 785–786 AD to serve as the city's main mosque. In 1236, when the city was conquered by Castile during the Reconquista, the building was converted into a Catholic cathedral. It continues to serve as the city's cathedral today.
The conversion of mosques into non-Islamic places of worship has occurred for centuries. The most prominent examples of such took place after and during the Reconquista.
María Isabel Ambrosio Palos is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) politician who was the mayor of Córdoba from 2015 to 2019.
The Almonaster la Real Mosque is a former Islamic mosque located in this Spanish municipality in the Province of Huelva, Andalusia. It was built during the Caliphate of Córdoba, between the 9th and 10th centuries, inside the castle of Almonaster, on the remains of a Visigothic basilica of the 6th century, whose materials were reused. After the Christian Reconquest, it was converted into a chapel, under the patronage of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and since then it has been the site of Catholic worship.