Its construction as a mosque began in 786 and was reserved for Muslim worship. The resulting building underwent major extensions during the Emirate and the Caliphate of Cordoba.
One of its main characteristics is that its wall was not oriented towards Mecca but 51º more to the south.
After the Christian reconquest of the city in 1238 it became a place of Christian worship. It has been called the cultural heritage of humanity.
It has been one of the most visited monuments in Spain because in 2018 bordered on two million visitors.