There was a period of 400 years or so, from the 800's to 1200's, when Christians, Jews and Muslims lived fairly peacefully together in The Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) under the then tolerant Muslim rulers. They led the world in scholarly pursuits, libraries, culture and architecture as they shared together their collective wisdom and talents. The Jews and Christians had to pay extra taxes, but they were allowed to keep their faiths and customs. Of course that eventually ended with a huge massacre of the Jews in the late 1200's and later full expulsion of the Jews and then the Muslims when Spain came under Catholic rule.
There is a synagogue and Jewish quarter in the old city not far from the Mosque. The famous Jewish writer Maimonides lived and wrote there before going on to Israel. There is a statue in the quarter in his honor. Most of the narrow streets are filled with shops and restaurants and homes all done in the whitewash common in the Arabic tradition. Flowers and plants are potted in blue containers and hung on the white walls and fountains are used for decoration as well as for water supply. I enjoyed a nice lunch with Michael and Ramona from England at one of the cute little restaurants there after our official tour.
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