Mezquita de Tórtoles, Ancient mosque in Tórtoles, Tarazona, Spain
The Mezquita de Tórtoles is a former mosque in a small town in Zaragoza Province with a single prayer hall. The building is supported by pointed arches and topped with a gabled roof, while the eastern wall preserves the original prayer niche with its characteristic horseshoe arch.
In the 15th century Tórtoles was a significant Islamic settlement, and this mosque ranks among the last surviving Islamic buildings on the Iberian Peninsula. After the Reconquista the building was secularized but kept its architectural features intact.
The place name comes from an Arabic word related to pottery, reflecting the craft traditions of the former community. The inscriptions in the wooden ceiling show this was a space for educated and literate people to gather.
The building sits in Zaragoza Province and is near several regional sites that can be reached easily. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the village sits on a hillside and access is on foot.
In 2020 Arabic verses from the Quran and secular poetry were discovered on the inner wooden ceiling, having remained hidden for centuries. These texts show that both religious and artistic content were valued here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
