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Mosque · Toledo, Castela-Mancha
Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
Small mosque completed in December 999, the best-preserved of the ten that Toledo once had. It has nine ribbed vaults and a Christian apse added in the 12th century.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
A brick inscription on the façade says that Ahmad ibn Hadidi paid for the work and that it was completed in December 999, under the direction of the architect Musà ibn Alí. The mosque stood next to a city gate called Bab al-Mardum and served those arriving in or leaving Toledo.
The plan is almost square, about 8 meters per side. Four columns with reused Visigothic capitals divide the space into nine sections, each covered by a different ribbed vault, in the style of the Caliphate of Córdoba. The central vault is higher.
After the Christian conquest, Alfonso VI granted the building to the Knights of the Order of Saint John, who transformed it into a chapel. In 1187 a brick apse was added, considered one of the earliest Mudejar works. It preserves 13th-century wall paintings, including a Christ in majesty.
The Christian name comes from the images that the chapel once housed: first a crucified Christ and later a Virgin of the Light. Today the building is not used for worship and is open to visitors, together with a small garden.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 15 to 20 minutes, including the garden.
Best time
In the early morning or late afternoon. It is small and fills up quickly when a group arrives. Check the opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is on Calle Cristo de la Luz, in the northern part of the historic centre, about a five-minute walk from Plaza de Zocodover. Those coming up from the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra pass nearby via the Puerta del Sol.
Tip
Notice the brick façade with interlacing arches and the band with the inscription of 999. Admission is included in the Pulsera Turística.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
Is the mosque really from the year 999?
Yes. The date is on the inscription on the façade, which mentions the completion of the work in December of 999.
Why is it called Cristo de la Luz?
After the Christian conquest the building became a hermitage, and the name came from the images it housed: a crucified Christ and, later, a Virgin of the Light.
Does it still function as a place of worship?
No. The building is not used for worship and functions as a monument open to visitors.
What is it near?
From the Plaza de Zocodover, about five minutes, and from the Puerta del Sol, on the way to the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra.