This is a list of former mosques in Spain. It lists former Muslim mosques (Arabic: Masjid, Spanish: Mezquita) and Islamic places of worship that were located within the modern borders of Spain. Most of these mosques are from the Al-Andalus period. For a list of open, functioning mosques in Spain see list of mosques in Spain.
The term former mosque in this list includes any Muslim mosque (building) or site used for Islamic Prayer (Salah) in Al-Andalus but is not so any longer.
These former mosques were used as Muslim places of worship during the Al-Andalus period from 711 AD to 1492 AD when various Muslim Moorish kingdoms ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Most of these former mosques and religious buildings were either converted into churches or demolished after the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula (the Reconquista).
History Mosques were an integral part of Al-Andalus social, political and cultural spheres. With the exception of the remnants of the 10th century Great Mosque of Cordoba, there is very little documentation available in English language about these old historical mosques.
There are only estimates about the number of these mosques. However, there seem to have existed possibly thousands of mosques in Muslim Spain. According to one estimate, there were 3,000 mosques, baths and palaces in Cordoba alone. This was during the 10th century, when Cordoba was one of the largest cities in the world and had over 250,000 buildings spread across an area of twenty four miles long and six miles wide. Today these old mosques in Cordoba are lost without a trace with the exception of the Great Mosque of Cordoba and a few other ruins and remains like the Minaret of San Juan.
At one time there were 137 mosques in the Medina of Grenada when it was the capital city of the Emirate of Granada (1230-1492). During this period the Medina (city) of Granada was one of the largest cities in Europe and welcomed large number of Muslims seeking refuge after being expelled from the Christian controlled areas. This influx doubled its size, and by 1450 made Granada the largest city in Europe in terms of population.Granada- The Last Refuge of Muslims in Spain by Salah Zaimeche
The proliferation of mosques was not limited to large cities. Small cities and towns had multiple mosques built for the easy and quick access of the faithful to perform their daily five times Islamic prayers (Salah) in congregation. There were 18 mosques in Jerez city, of which only the mosque within the fortress of Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera survives today. There were 16 mosques in Vélez-Málaga (then known as Ballis Medina) during the Nazari Granada Emirate period. Ronda a smaller town had 7 or 8 mosques of which today only a minaret tower of a medium-size mosque remains. About 5 former mosques still exist in Toledo with the original structures at least partially preserved, as shown in the list below.
Al-Andalus Building or ruins remains This table lists former mosques in Al-Andalus with identified original buildings or ruins of the former mosque still existing on the premises.
Note: Mesquita means mosque in the Spanish language. Current nameMosque NameImagesCityProvinceYear openedYear closedNotesRef.Mosque–Cathedral of CórdobaGreat Mosque of Córdoba (Qurṭuba), Aljama MosqueCórdobaAndalusiaearly 8th century1236After the Muslim conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom (710~), the site of former main Visigothic church of Cordoba was divided and shared between Muslims and Christians for seven decades. Later Abd al-Rahman I purchased Christian part and built the great mosque in 785. Major extensions were added in 9th and 10th centuries, until final extension in the 10th century under Almanzor. After Christians captured Cordoba in 1236, King Ferdinand III of Castile converted the mosque into a cathedral. Later, a cathedral was built at the center of the old mosque, configuring the current Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. It was the second largest mosque in the world after Mecca Great mosque from around the 9th century, until Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul was built in 1588. It had a surface area of and accommodated an estimated 32,000 to 40,000 worshipers. Current mosque structure date from 784 to 987. Mosque of Cristo de la LuzMezquita Bab-al-MardumToledoCastilla–La Mancha9991186Converted into a church. One of the best preserved Moorish mosques in Spain.GiraldaGreat Mosque of SevilleSevilleAndalusia1248Only minaret remains. Mosque comparable in size to Great mosque of Cordoba, destroyed by earthquake in 1365. Minaret used as a church bell tower was built higher in the 16th century.Mosque of CuatrovitasBollullos de la MitaciónSevilleAndalusia118015th century The Hermitage of Our Lady of Cuatrovitas was originally an Almohad mosque. Despite the modifications, the original structure can still be reproduced. The tower is in fact the minaret.Almonaster la Real MosqueAlmonaster la RealAndalusia10th century Built on site of the 5th-century Visigoth basilica. Converted into a church after Reconquista. National Monument since 1931.Mezquita del Alcázar de Jerez la FronteraJerez de la Frontera (Jerez)Andalusia11th centurymid 13th century Located within former Moorish fortress of Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera. Only surviving mosque building of 18 former mosques in the Jerez city. Converted into church after Reconquista.Mosque of las TorneríasAl-MustimimToledoCastilla–La Mancha1060Unusual two-storied mosque. Was built in a busy commercial neighborhood (Arrabal de Francos). Used as a church until 1498–1505, and other uses since. Restoration and preservation done recently.Mezquita de TórtolesTarazonaAragon15th centuryMosque remains almost not altered in the later centuries. Current building was built in 2 stages, one early 15th century, other late 15th century. It is attached to the remains of the old fortified tower of town castle. Converted into a church in 1526.Aljama Mosque of Medina AzaharaAljama Masjid of Madinat al-ZahraCórdobaAndalusia9401010A mosque in Madinat al-Zahra, a vast, fortified Moorish palace-city built by Abd-ar-Rahman III (912–961). The marbled, jeweled complex was plundered & destroyed first by Muslims, then by Christians when civil war ended Caliphate of Córdoba. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018.San Sebastián de ToledoAl-Dabbagin MasjidToledoCastilla–La Mancha1085~Converted into a church after 1085 Christian conquest of area. Renovated several times but original interior structure remains. Building now used as a concert and exhibition hall. Bell tower built in the 15th century shows characteristics of a former minaret. Ruins of Arab Baths of Tenerías remain lower below on slope. A short reference to mosque exist by Ibn Baskuwal (1101–83) reported by Fath ibn Ibrahim.The existence of the Al-Dabbagin mosque is attested by a short reference by Ibn Baskuwal (1101-83) reported by Fath ibn Ibrahim. see: ''Actas de las i jornadas de Cultura Islámica, Toledo'', Instituto Occidental de Cultura Islámica (ed.) 1987, p. 158Small Royal mosque inside Aljafería PalaceZaragozaAragon10th centuryLocated inside the great fortified palace. A small octagonal mosque, designed as a private oratory for the king and his family. Mosque architecture inspired by Córdoba mosque. Aljafería is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.Iglesia de El Salvador, ToledoToledoCastilla–La Mancha9th century1085Mosque built on former Visigoth or Roman substrate. Now a rebuilt church but excavations revealed 9th century structures & elements of mosque - horseshoe arch arcade, primitive stone minaret, flooring, courtyard with cistern.Alminar de Árchez, Alminar Mudéjar (Mudejar Minaret of Árchez)Masjid al-Ta`ibin, Mezquita de los ConversosSan Juan de los Reyes (Granada) Alminar (Mosque of convert)ÁrchezAndalusia14th centuryOnly minaret remains, used as belfry of Árchez church built on mosque location. Minaret is an Almohade architecture monument and only remaining jewel of Nazarí period.San Sebastian Minaret (Alminar De San Sebastian)RondaAndalusia1485Only minaret of the medium-size mosque in Plaza Abul Beka neighborhood remains. Minaret was expanded and used as a bell tower. The mosque was converted to a church but destroyed in 1600s during Morisco Revolts. Ronda was a Muslim city for 700 years. The city had 7 or 8 mosques, none survive today.Alminar de San Juan (Minaret of San Juan)CórdobaAndalusia930Only minaret remains of mosque built in 930 during 1st Spanish Umayyad caliph 'Abd al-Rahman III. Now its belfry of San Juan church.Iglesia de Santiago del Arrabal, ToledoToledoCastilla–La ManchaConverted to church in 1223–25. Caliphate era minaret survives. Church is a Mudéjar style masterpiece, built in 1245–47 on prior structures of a mosque and Visigoth building.Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Benaque, Macharaviaya) MacharaviayaAndalusiaOne of few preserved mosques with original minaret and solid block building built of brick & masonry. Interior single rectangular prayer hall now a church nave. Drilling Mecca facing wall in 2003 showed original mosque construction and 19th century work. Reconquista era document says "...While it was the visitation and reformation of the houses in the alcayua (or alamiya) in Benaque, the inhabitants used mosque as a parish church, where they had images and heard Mass..." .
Original buildings destroyed This table lists former mosques in Al-Andalus with no known surviving mosque buildings. The original mosques were completely destroyed by people, war or by natural causes like earthquakes. Other structures were built on the site destroying or covering traces of the mosque. The ruins and stone materials of the mosque were often reused to build the new structures. However these sites may still contain undiscovered original structures within the current buildings or un-excavated ruins on the premises.