Mezquita de Las Tornerias (Mosque of las Tornerias), Toledo

The Mosque of las Tornerias is a former Moorish mosque located in the old Muslim neighborhood of Arrabal de Francos in Toledo. The mosque was constructed in the mid-11th century on the foundations of Roman architecture, which were used for the distribution of drinking water throughout the city. The building's unique layout, with two floors due to the uneven terrain, is what sets it apart from other mosques of its time.

The mosque's interior is organized into nine square compartments, with four columns without bases supporting three naves. The arches are horseshoe-shaped and vary in proportion, with the mihrab, or prayer niche, placed on the side corresponding to the qibla wall. The central compartment has a cruciform structure and a ribbed dome.

Historians are uncertain about the exact date of the mosque's construction, but it is generally believed to have been built in the second half of the 11th century. The building continued to be used for Islamic worship even after the Christian reconquest of Toledo in 1085, until it was desacralized by the Catholic Monarchs in 1498-1505. It went through various uses over the centuries, including as an inn and a headquarters for businesses and small factories, before being rediscovered in the late 19th century by historians who had previously believed it to be a synagogue.

Today, the Mezquita de las Tornerías houses the Center Foundation of Promotion of the Crafts, which showcases temporary exhibitions and can be visited by the public. Visitors can explore the mosque's unique architecture and learn about its fascinating history as both a place of worship and a multi-use building throughout the centuries.