Convento de Santa Clara, Medieval convent in Historic Center, Córdoba, Spain
Convento de Santa Clara is a convent in the historic center of Córdoba, combining a Christian church, a converted minaret tower, and the remains of an earlier mosque within a single complex. The site sits on Rey Heredia Street and shows building elements from several different periods side by side.
The convent was founded in 1265, shortly after the Christian reconquest of Córdoba, and was the first female monastery in the city. It was built on the grounds of a major 10th-century mosque, some parts of which survived the transition.
The bell tower of the convent is a converted Islamic minaret that still shows its original Moorish battlements on the outside. Visitors can see the remains of the earlier mosque sitting right next to the Christian church elements.
The convent is currently closed to visitors due to ongoing restoration work, so it is worth checking before you plan a visit. The exterior facade and the converted minaret tower are clearly visible from the street.
The original staircase from the mosque era is still inside the minaret tower and was at times accessible to visitors. It is one of the few surviving elements that date directly from the Islamic building before the convent was established.
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