The Mezquita is most notable for its giant arches, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.
These were made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, as well as
other destroyed Roman buildings, such as the Mérida amphitheatre.

The double arches, (as seen in my photo), were a new introduction to architecture, and helped support
the tremendous weight of the higher ceilings. The double arches consist of a lower horseshoe arch and
an upper semi-circular arch. The famous alternating red and white voussoirs of the arches were inspired
by those in the Dome of the Rock.