Patrimonio cultural en disputa: la Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba

Abstract

Cordoba, Spain is currently the center of a dispute over its most highly recognizable symbol: the Mosque-Cathedral. Built for Islamic worship, consecrated as a Catholic church in the 13th Century this temple is protected as cultural heritage representing an outstanding architectural legacy of al-Andalus. Contemporary conflicts have revolved around the Diocese of Cordoba’s controversial registration of the Mosque-Cathedral as their property, along with the discursive strategies Church authorities have used to claim the site, by which the Muslim legacy of the building has almost disappeared in visitor information. These strategies clash with its designation of universal cultural heritage, unfolding contradictions that deserve academic scrutiny. Current interpretations of the history of Spain, especially in relation to al-Andalus, are explored in relation to the origins, trajectory, and public character of heritage. In this context, we explore connections to the recent controversy surrounding conflicting discourses over the meaning and value of the Mosque-Cathedral.