Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: minaret

After the end of the Macedonian-Roman War in 168 BC, Illyria came under Roman protectorate and in 146 BC the Romans built the Via Egnatia trade route, which was a direct link between Rome and Byzantium as a continuation of the Via Appia. Rest areas were established at regular intervals along this route, one of which was in Scampa, what is Elbasan today. Scampa was developed into a fortress by the Romans. Even today, the remains of late antique walls are still visible in some places up to a height of three metres. The position of the wall rectangle of 348 metres by 308 metres still forms the boundary of the old town today. The Via Egnatia ran through the two city gates located in the centre of the west and east sides. Scampa became the seat of a bishop in the 5th century. The remains of an early basilica were uncovered on a hill outside the city walls. From the 7th century onwards, there were Slavic invasions and the town was destroyed by fire. The place was then probably abandoned. It is unclear whether a settlement existed under the Byzantines. It may still have been abandoned when the Ottomans built a military camp there and a massive four-sided castle was constructed in order to fight Skanderbeg, due to an ongoing conflict between the Ottomans and Albanians. In 1467 many Christians from Skopje, Ohrid, Serres and Kastoria were forcibly deported to Elbasan. By the end of the 17th century it had 2,000 inhabitants. At the beginning of the 20th century it was estimated that 15,000 people lived in Elbasan. The King Mosque is considered the oldest preserved mosque in Albania. Built at the end of the 15th century, the mosque is located in the old town within the fortress walls. The mosque consists of a quadrangular prayer room, the sides of which are around 14 metres long. In front of it is a wooden vestibule and in the north-west corner stands the minaret. After religion was banned in Albania in 1967, the building was repurposed and altered. It served as a centre for popular political education. By 1979, only the prayer room remained of the building - the minaret had been demolished. In 2013, the mosque was extensively and faithfully restored. The minaret was also rebuilt.

Córdoba shares its history with many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decades, was looted by the Vandals before the Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. In 784 the Christian half was purchased by Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². But there is much more than the breathtaking Mezquita. San Nicolás de la Villa dates back to the 13th century and is one of the twelve "Fernandine" churches built after the conquest by Ferdinand III of Castile, in Gothic-Mudéjar style, although it was completed only in the following centuries, with many renovations. The construction of the tower began in the period of the Catholic Monarchs on the remains of an earlier Islamic minaret.

Córdoba shares its history with many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decades, was looted by the Vandals before the Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. Córdoba was captured by King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236, after a siege of several months. The city declined over the next centuries and was partly destroyed and looted by French troops in 1808 during the Peninsular War. Today Córdoba is a thriving city with a population of more than 300.000. The Minaret of San Juan (aka "Torre de San Juan") was built end of the 9th or early 10th century and was then part of a mosque. It was probably higher than it is now. After the conquest of Cordoba, the place was ceded to the Knights Hospitaller (aka "of Saint John of Jerusalem"), who built a church on the ruins of the mosque. As I have already uploaded many photos from a previous visit, I will not add many now.

Córdoba shares its history with so many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decade, got looted by the Vandals, before Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. In 976 a mosque was built here atop of a Christian church erected by the Visigoths. After the Reconquista the mosque was coverted into a nunnery and a basilica was built. The Moorish minaret of the former mosque survived the times.

Ronda was known to the Romans by the name of Arunda. At the end of the Roman Empire it was taken by the Suebi and later part of the Visigoth realm. In 713 it fell to the Berbers, who built a castle on the Roman foundations. The troops of the Marquis of Cádiz conquered Ronda after a siege in 1485. The Spanish decreed that all Muslims must either convert to Christianity or leave Spain without their belongings. Muslims who converted were called Moriscos, they had to wear upon their hats a blue crescent. In 1566 Philip II decreed the use of the Arabic language illegal, required that doors open on Fridays to verify that no Muslim Friday prayers were conducted. This led to a rebellion. The Muslim soldiers defeated the Spanish army sent to suppress them. The massacre prompted Phillip II to order the expulsion of all Moriscos in Ronda. Ronda´s Moorish old town, La Ciudad, is located on a steeply sloping rock plateau. The old town is separated from the younger part, El Mercadillo, by the "Tajo de Ronda" a narrow gorge almost 100 meters deep, formed by the Guadalevín River. This minaret belonged to a small mosque of the 13th century, that after the Christian conquest was converted to a church named San Sebastian. This church got destroyed during the Morisco rebellion in the 16th century. Only the former minaret, that had been converted in San Sebastian´s belltower survived. It is divided into three sections. The first two are of Moorish origin, whilst the highest was adapted by the Christians to house the belfry.

Ronda was known to the Romans by the name of Arunda. At the end of the Roman Empire it was taken by the Suebi and later part of the Visigoth realm. In 713 it fell to the Berbers, who built a castle on the Roman foundations. The troops of the Marquis of Cádiz conquered Ronda after a siege in 1485. The Spanish decreed that all Muslims must either convert to Christianity or leave Spain without their belongings. Muslims who converted were called Moriscos, they had to wear upon their hats a blue crescent. In 1566 Philip II decreed the use of the Arabic language illegal, required that doors open on Fridays to verify that no Muslim Friday prayers were conducted. This led to a rebellion. The Muslim soldiers defeated the Spanish army sent to suppress them. The massacre prompted Phillip II to order the expulsion of all Moriscos in Ronda. Ronda´s Moorish old town, La Ciudad, is located on a steeply sloping rock plateau. The old town is separated from the younger part, El Mercadillo, by the "Tajo de Ronda" a narrow gorge almost 100 meters deep, formed by the Guadalevín River. Santa Maria la Mayor in the old town was erected after Ronda was taken b Christian troops under King Ferdinand II. ("Fernando el Católico"). Upto 1485 this was the place of the city´s great mosque. Traces of the mosque can still be seen, eg the bell tower stands on the former minaret. The church has Gothic and Renaissance elements and was originally an abbey church.

Seville was a Roman "colonia" since 45BC. The important city got looted by the Vandals in 428 and developed into a Bishopric seat under Visigothic rule. After the Moors had defeated the Visigoths in the Battle of Guadalete, the conquered Seville and made it the capital of a province. Normans devastated Seville in 844 but Seville got rebuilt and flourished under the different Moorish dynasties. In 1248 Seville was conquered by the troops of Ferdinand III of Castile. The emigration of hundredthousands of Moors to Northern Africa led to a decrease of economics in the whole area. Seville recovered in the 16th and 17th century, when it became the hub of Spanish maritime trade. During this period, the port of Seville had a monopoly on overseas trade. Vespucci and Magellan planned and started their voyages here. As a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, in 1717 Seville lost the transatlantic trade monopoly to Cádiz. The cathedral was erected between 1401 and 1519 on the remains of the Great Mosque of Seville, built in the 12th century. The bell tower of the cathedral, named "La Giralda" was originally built in 1196 as the minaret for the Mosque from bricks. It was 82m high. The 32m high renaissance-style top on the former minaret was completed in 1568.

Seville was a Roman "colonia" since 45BC. The important city got looted by the Vandals in 428 and developed into a Bishopric seat under Visigothic rule. After the Moors had defeated the Visigoths in the Battle of Guadalete, the conquered Seville and made it the capital of a province. Normans devastated Seville in 844 but Seville got rebuilt and flourished under the different Moorish dynasties. In 1248 Seville was conquered by the troops of Ferdinand III of Castile. The emigration of hundredthousands of Moors to Northern Africa led to a decrease of economics in the whole area. Seville recovered in the 16th and 17th century, when it became the hub of Spanish maritime trade. During this period, the port of Seville had a monopoly on overseas trade. Vespucci and Magellan planned and started their voyages here. As a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, in 1717 Seville lost the transatlantic trade monopoly to Cádiz. The cathedral was erected between 1401 and 1519 on the remains of the Great Mosque of Seville, built in the 12th century. The bell tower of the cathedral, named "La Giralda" was originally built in 1196 as the minaret for the Mosque from bricks. It was 82m high. The 32m high renaissance-style top on the former minaret was completed in 1568.