The Great Mosque

We find ourselves at the Major Mosque of Málaga upon which the current Cathedral was built. After the capture of Málaga, the Catholic Monarchs entered in procession to consecrate it. The Cardinal of Spain, Pedro González de Mendoza, and the Bishop of Ávila, Fray Hernando de Talavera, participated in this event. The patronage granted by Queen Isabel was that of the Incarnation, which was always given to the main church. It is known that on February 12, 1488, the Pope granted permission for the construction of the Cathedral.

Today, some canvases of the walls of the mosque are preserved, specifically some traces in the Gallery that connects the Church of the Sagrario with the Cathedral and where the Cathedral museum is located. We also find an exterior corner that must have belonged to the mosque, facing Calle Cister, behind the Sagrario. It is believed that the mosque had to be located over the Church of the Sagrario, the garden, and part of the current Cathedral. A door that led to Calle Molina Lario is known, through which the Monarchs entered, and a side door that would lead to Calle Cister. The main entrance had stairs due to the unevenness of the street.

The mosque was consecrated by Mu awya Ibn Salik al Hadrami, a Syrian emigrant and trusted friend of the first emir of Córdoba. According to Al Bakri, it had five naves, possibly a main one leading to the mihrab, two on each side, plus two axial ones.

In 1528, the mosque was demolished to begin the construction of the current Cathedral.

Marc G