Religious Buildings in Early al-Andalus: Origins, Consolidation and Prevalence in Urban Contexts

Abstract

The arrival of Islam to the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of the 8th c. brought important changes to the urbanism of cities which contributed to turn the previous late-antique realities into medieval Islamic settlements. Among all the transformations that took place, the introduction of mosques and the reconfiguration of cities’ religioscapes is one of the most relevant. The processes through which the earliest mosques were first inserted in urban landscapes in al-Andalus are unclear, since so far there are no remains that can be undoubtedly dated before the Umayyad period. From that moment on, and alongside the Umayyad organization of the Andalusi state, the founding of mosques becomes clearer and traceable, and their urban, religious and political roles more evident. This contribution seeks to identify how and why mosques appeared in the Iberian Peninsula, how they (re)configured religious spaces in cities, and how they contributed to consolidate their significance through specific written and architectural narratives. This topic will be explored also seeking for parallels and connections in the Bilād al-Shām region.

The Experimentation of the Sacred in al-Ḥakam II’s Maqṣūra: An Architecture Based on Emotions

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Inter-religious Coexistence in Cordoba During the Umayyad Period

“…Located within the heart of al-Andalus, this city is regarded to have served as the jewel in the crown of Islamic civilization during the Medieval Ages. Against a backdrop of intellectual efflorescence, architectural splendor, and cultural diversity, the intricate dance between social and religious elements unfolded, shaping the very fabric of Cordoba's identity (Torlak, et al, 2016;González-Gutiérrez, 2023). This article delves into the captivating narrative of social-religious relations that characterized this medieval metropolis, unraveling the complexities of coexistence, conflict, and collaboration that defined the unique Islamic Cordoba.…”