The last synagogue left standing in all Andalucia is in Cordoba, built in 1350 it has survived the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.
Above is an ancient Jewish residence, kept as a museum in Cordoba. Apparently Jews had lived in Cordoba since the 11th century BC and under Muslim rule the Jews had total religious freedom and prospered economically and intellectually, Maimonide a revolutionary philosopher and author of the 'Misneh Torah' lived in Cordoba before fleeing conversion or death by the Christians.
The Romans built a pagan temple in Cordoba, then the Visigoths replaced it with the Christian church of Saint Vincent. The Arabs then conquered in the 8th century and started work on the giant mosque. It took 200 years and was completed by king Abd ar-Rahman III in the 10th century. In 1236 Cordoba was recaptured by the Christian king Alfonso X and over time since this last reconquest a massive gothic cathedral has grown up in the centre of the mosque.
We visited the village of Carmona on our way back from Cordoba. We went to the viewing point that looks out over the countryside as mentioned in the rough guide.
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