Overview

In the Dark Ages, a glorious civilization sprang up in the province of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is conventional to refer to this civilization as “Moorish,” but in fact it was a hybrid of three powerful cultural forces: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The period when Moorish kings ruled Andalusia—or al-Andalus, as they called it—was a rare moment in history when members of the three great monotheistic faiths worked side-by-side to build a sophisticated society. Next November, join us and discover the enduring intellectual and cultural legacy of the Moors in Morocco and Spain’s Andalusia.

First, we’ll explore the riveting ancient cities of Morocco. In the capital city of Rabat, marvel at the city ramparts dating back to the Moorish kings. Then it’s on to fabled Marrakech, perhaps Morocco’s most attractive Imperial city, to visit the medina and its Jewish Quarter, among other sites. Next, continue to Tlemcen in Algeria, where we will see the magnificent 11th-century Great Mosque.

In Spain, we will visit several of the greatest cities of al-Andalus, including Granada, home to the incomparable Alhambra—a palace of lush gardens, tranquil courtyards, and private chambers; Ronda, dramatically built on a ridge; and Seville, where the genius and elegance of the era’s art and architecture is richly displayed at the Alcazar.