The Cathedral of Cordoba (Spain)
Presentation
On 29 Th July 1236, festivity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Monarch Ferdinand
III the Saint, entered into the city with his troops. After a long parade - procession he crossed the bridge till he reached the Mosque, where he firstly put a Cross, symbol of the christianism and the banner of Castile and Leon on the Minaret, the tower. Then the Archbishop of Osma began the ceremony for consecrating the Mosque and it was named: Saint Mary, Glorious Mother of Jesus Christ.
The first chapel, the Ancient Main Chapel, in the space corresponding to the skylight, which was the al-Hakam II’s Enlargement entrance employing as choir the three naves included between this one and the occident to the wall.
Next to this named skylight of the entrance, there was another, carried out in the almohad period, andit was used for keeping the King Henry
II’s father and grandfather rests (Alphonse XI and Ferdinand IV). This is the Royal Chapel.
Because of the borders of Córdoba, there was a big social and political instability. For this reason there was the lack of big works till the beginning of the XVI century. In this century appears one of the most important architect of the Mosque: the first was Hernán Ruiz I, nickname the old, because he was Mayor during almost half a century (1502-1549); his work in the building is studied in three big phases or parts: the restoration of the big frontispiece (outside the Mosque) and the court
(1505-1514), the restoration of Almanzor’s naves (1514-1523) and the creation of the new Main Chapel and the Choir, work that will be begun in 1523 and he will continue till his death in 1549.
The works of the Main Chapel were prolonged till 1607, showing the different between Hernán Ruiz I the Old and his son Hernán Ruíz II the Young and Diego de Praves or Juan de Ochoa, this is a very important figure for the mannerism in
this city.
In the middle of VIIth century, there was a clear political and social stability; this was shown in the building, a great number of medieval chapels are reformed reniewed, even new ones will be built, such as the Chapel of Saint Spirit, one of the last, made by Hernán Ruiz II th Old.
The works of the XVI Century are ended with the opening of the tower works beginning with the bell 
tower drew by Hernán Ruiz III; of the same author are. The Tabernacle Chapel, situated towards south-east from the prayer room.
During the XVII and the XVIII Centuries the interes or fanatism for the religion is imperative, as in the past. For this reason there are big - important families interested in giving generous quantities of money in order to keep the cult in the chapel raised previously.
In the XVIII Century Chapel of Saint Teresa spots out; built with the aim of being used as Main Sacristy and for keeping the Cardinal Salazar’s rests.
Despite, we cannot forget, one of the chairs of the Spanish Baroque, carved in wooden by sculpter Pedro Duque Cornejo.
Then we will make a background to the history of the Cathedral, focusing on the main figures that worked on it.
Text: J.A.S.C.
Traslated by Sara Moretti