Saturday, March 25, 2023

Alminar de San Juan

Alminar de San Juan (Minaret of San Juan), San Juan de los Caballeros, Plaza de San Juan, Córdoba

Alminar de San Juan (Minaret of San Juan)
San Juan de los Caballeros
Plaza de San Juan
Córdoba, September 2022

“In the middle of the Jewish quarter of Cordoba we can find one of the most emblematic spots and one of the most striking towers of the Jewish quarter: the Minaret of San Juan. This construction was built at the end of the 9th century and it was one of the many medieval mosques in Cordoba at that time. From this minaret the faithful were called to prayer. After the Christian conquest, this building became part of the order of St John of the Knights who transformed the mosque into the Church of the same name. Thus converting the minaret into a bell tower. In 2018 it underwent a profound reform, where the minaret’s value was notably increased as it is part of the only examples of emirate architecture in Spain. These relics have been declared an Asset of General Interest. As you can see, the building is square in shape and is less than eleven meters high. Its body is made up of stone blocks arranged in rope and laid in headers with twin horseshoe arches on marble columns with Visigoth shafts. Its arches are made up of two-colored red brick keystones alternated with bio-calcarenite stone.” (The Minaret of San Juan, OWAY Tours)

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