It is located in Toledo Spain. It was converted into a church around 1085. This occurred when Toledo was taken control of by Christians. There is a legend surrounding this building. It is said that King Alfonso VI arrived in Toledo after his victory of capturing the city in 1085 when his horse fell in front of this chapel. The story tells that candle has been continuously burning in the cracks of the stone wall throughout the entire rule of Muslims and when the King further explored the place he discovered a crucifix. The crucifix was moved to the Santa Cruz Museum located in the same city. It is said that the first mass after the King’s victory of Toledo was held here.[1]
It has a square shape which measures 8m by 8,m or about 26 feet by 26 feet long and has a semicircle part attached to it which is the head of the cross shape.
It was added to the back of the building in the 12th century even though the building is square since it was converted in to a church, they tried to make it seem more Christian like adding features from Christian churches that were typically cross shaped.
The highest arch inside the building is 30 feet which is the central dome and the ribs of from a star shape that looks like a crown.[2] The inside has four columns and makes nine square areas and has a dome. It has a qibla wall on the south east. This section is slightly bigger than the others and is where the mihrab is located.[3] There is a small garden next to the building with a small fountain in the center. [1]On the outside there are horse-shoe shaped aches. It was originally renamed Mezquita Bab-al-Mardum which comes from the city gate with the same name. Despite its small size, it is very well preserved making it the only Moorish mosque in the city that didn't have any huge changes to it. It has Moorish and early Gothic elements such as the Kufic script and the heads of the columns.There are also ribs in the domes in each section that relate to early Gothic architecture.[4] The building is made mostly from brick and stone. [5]
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It is an example of Mudejar architecture from the altar, domed part, and transept (arms of the cross shape). It was built in 999 during the Ummayed dynasty and the patron was Ahmad Ibn Hadidi. The Arabic inscription in Kufic on the building states that Musa Ibn Ali built it. [1]
King Alfonso VIII decided to give the building to the Order of the Hospital of the Holy Cross in 1182. Christian elements were added to it after such as the semi circle dome at the top of the altar and murals of Christian figures. One of which is located in the east end of the church of Christ. The building was influenced by other mosques such as Great Mosque of Cordoba from the blind arches and the vaults(arched roof).
You need to pay normally around 3 euros to enter but children are allowed free entry.[5]
- ^ a b c "Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz - Toledo, Spain". www.sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ "Bab Mardum Mosque – An inspiration for Gothic? « Muslim Heritage". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ "Discover Islamic Art - Virtual Museum - monument_ISL_es_Mon01_3_en". islamicart.museumwnf.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ Saoud, Rabah (January 2002). "A Review on Architecture in Muslim Spain and North Africa (756-1500 AD)" (PDF). Foundation for Science Technology and Civilization: 8–9.
- ^ a b TURESPAÑA (2007-04-23). "Monuments in Toledo, Spain: Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz. Cultural tourism in Castile la Mancha, Spain". Spain.info. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
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