A thorough analysis of the building and its surroundings has been carried out, contextualizing the various reforms made throughout history, from the 19th century to the end of the 20th century. Arturo Ruiz Taboada, a doctor in Geography and History known for his extensive experience in excavations, has directed the archaeological work at the Tornerías mosque in Toledo. This project has revealed hidden secrets in the architecture of the place.
The Tornerías mosque turned out to be the only one that the Muslims maintained after the Christian conquest of the city in 1085. The presence of a minaret has been confirmed, and the original shape of the access arches to the courtyard has been discovered. The prestigious professor Ricardo Izquierdo Benito praised the meticulousness and rigor of the work carried out in Tornerías over the years.
The ancient Tornerías mosque, which now houses the Regional Craft Center, has been the subject of an exhaustive archaeological study from 2017 to 2021. Throughout the centuries, the building has had various uses that concealed its original structure, even losing the mihrab, a distinctive element.
Thanks to the research conducted, it was discovered that the arches supporting the mosque date from the late 7th century or early 8th century and could have belonged to a Visigothic church. This finding has ruled out the theory that the structure was related to a Roman water storage facility. The restoration project was led by AMA Architecture Studio and coordinated by Arturo Ruiz Taboada along with Luis Miguel Muñoz Fragua.
After six years of restoration, the Tornerías mosque in Toledo is open to the public, offering the opportunity to explore its walls and nooks for free until April.
