Description of the attraction
For a long time, Spain was under the rule of the Moorish conquerors, and in many of its cities traces of the culture of this people have been preserved. Cordoba is no exception, on the territory of which there is one of the most outstanding monuments of architecture and history of Andalusia and in the whole of Spain - Medina As-Sahara.
Medina As-Sahara is a palace complex whose name literally translates as "the city of Zahra". Its fragments are located 8 km west of Cordoba.
The construction of this complex lasted from 936 to 976. Unfortunately, this residence, created in order to strengthen the power and greatness of the caliph who ruled in this region, existed for about 70 years, and in 1010 it was destroyed by the African Berber troops.
Built on a hill, Medina As Sahara was spread over three terraces. On the upper terrace was the magnificent Palace of Abdarrahman III, created by one of the first. Below, right in front of the Palace, beautiful gardens were laid out, and on the lower terrace were residential buildings and a mosque.
In 1923, the palace city of Medina al-Sahara was given the status of a national architectural and historical monument and excavations of its ruins began, which continue to this day. At the moment, only 12% of the area of this complex has been restored. The most survived are the Hall of Wealth and the House of the Viziers. Unfortunately, the mosque was completely destroyed; it was possible to establish that it had a rectangular foundation.
In 2009, Queen Sofia established the Medina As-Sahara Museum, the proceeds of which are used to further continue the excavation of the palace city.
