Morocco & Southern Spain
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MOROCCO & SOUTHERN SPAIN OCTOBER 9-25, 2017 TOUR LEADER: SUE ROLLIN MOROCCO & Overview SOUTHERN SPAIN Discover the cultural and historic connections between North Africa and Spain on this exciting new tour, which offers the opportunity to explore the Tour dates: October 9-25, 2017 art and architecture, gastronomy, gardens and picturesque landscapes of Morocco and Al-Andalus. Tour leader: Sue Rollin Roman domination of Morocco, as witnessed by the splendid ruins of Tour Price: $9,645 per person, twin share Volubilis, capital of Mauretania Tingitania, gave way to rule by the Vandals and the Byzantines until in the early 8C the Arab conquest brought Islam. Single Supplement: $1,925 for sole use of Local Berber tribes flocked to join the Arab banners and in 711 the double room conquering army landed in Spain, where they defeated the Visigoths. A blend of Berber and Arab culture produced the Moorish art of both Spain Booking deposit: $500 per person and Morocco. Recommended airline: Emirates In Morocco, we visit the kasbahs and medinas of Rabat, Meknes and Fes, renowned for its labyrinth of market streets and workshops where Maximum places: 20 traditional trades and crafts, including colourful mosaic tilework (zellij) are practised. A drive through the Rif mountains via the beautiful medieval Itinerary: Rabat (2 nights), Fes (2 nights), town of Chefchaouen with its red-tiled roofs takes us to the Mediterranean Chefchaouen (1 night), Tangier (2 nights), Arcos coast and Tangiers, where we cross the straits to Spain. (2 nights), Seville (3 nights), Cordoba (2 nights), Here, in the heart of Al-Andalus, where Islam, Christianity and Judaism Granada (2 nights) interacted, we explore the magnificent architecture of Seville, Cordoba and Granada, enjoy the passion of flamenco and admire the rugged Sierra Date published: February 16, 2017 Nevada. Along the route of the ‘pueblos blancos’ we see charming whitewashed towns and villages amid a landscape of hills clad with cork oaks, walnut and olive trees and valleys where citrus and cherry orchards vie with cotton and wheat. Your tour leader Sue Rollin holds degrees in Near Eastern history and archaeology, South Asian studies and in conference interpreting. She has tutored and lectured in Assyriology and Ancient History at London and Cambridge Universities, has participated on several archaeological excavations in Europe, had a post as staff interpreter at the European Commission and currently works as a freelance interpreter, lecturer and tour guide. Sue has led many cultural tours in India, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean for leading travel companies. Sue lectures for NADFAS, the Art Fund and the V&A and she has done three ADFAS lecture tours in Australia. She speaks French, German, Spanish and Italian and works regularly as an interpreter for the European Parliament, Enquiries and Council of Europe and the United Nations. bookings For Sue, Morocco and southern Spain are compelling destinations. “A journey to Morocco and southern Spain is a rewarding and exciting For further information and to experience that awakens all the senses. Moorish art and architecture with secure a place on this tour its decorative stonework, delicate wood carving and colourful tiles is a please contact Kathy Wardrop feast for the eyes, and in the bustling markets, the cries of the traders at Academy Travel on 9235 mingle with the clip-clop of donkeys’ hoofs on the cobbles. The exotic 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside flavours of the region combined with spectacular landscapes, the rhythm Sydney) or email of flamenco, and the friendliness and hospitality of the people make for an [email protected] unforgettable experience”. Tour Highlights FES Explore stunning Islamic architecture in the labyrinthine warren of narrow lanes and covered bazaars of the World Heritage-Listed medina of Fes el Bali. VOLUBILIS Survey the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the best preserved archaeological site in Morocco with its many temples, villas, public building and spectacular mosaics. SEVILLE Admire Seville’s vast Gothic cathedral and exquisitely decorated Real Alcázar, an outstanding of Mudéjar (Moorish influenced) architecture. GREAT MOSQUE OF CΌRDOBA Marvel at Cordoba’s breathtaking mosque, one of Islam’s finest legacies in Spain. ALHAMBRA Experience the Alhambra, last stronghold of the Moors in Spain, with its fine backdrop of The Sierra Nevada mountains. THE GREAT MOSQUE OF CORDOBA Cordoba’s most iconic building, the Great Mosque, above the churches and bands of coloured stone hark back to Byzantine Guadalquivir River, is a unique architectural masterpiece. tradition. Known locally as ‘La Mezquita’, it is the only mosque in the The private prayer room of the caliph, emphasised world which contains a cathedral and it is an expression in architecturally by ribbed domes supported on elaborately stone of over 1700 years of Roman, Christian and Muslim decorated multi-lobed arches, looks towards the mihrab, the history. Originally there was probably a Roman temple on the culmination of the Great Mosque. Both mihrab and prayer site and when the Visigoths arrived in the late 6C they built room are incrusted with glittering gold, red and blue glass there a Christian basilica dedicated to San Vicente. In 711 mosaic, showing Koranic inscriptions and floral and foliate Muslim conquerors took over southern Spain and in Cordoba designs, intended to invoke paradise. Tradition holds that this they initially shared the church with the Christians, until in 756 superb glass mosaic decoration was executed by a mosaicist it was purchased by Abd al-Rahman I, grandson of Umayyad sent specially by the Byzantine emperor. caliph Hisham, who made Cordoba his capital. In line with In the heart of the hypostyle hall is the most surprising feature the city’s new status a grand congregational mosque was built of all, a 16C cathedral inserted into the mosque at the time of over the church, a symbol of Islamic supremacy and inspired Charles V. After Ferdinand III of Castile had conquered by the great Umayyad mosque in Damascus, where the family Cordoba in 1236 the mosque was declared a Catholic had once held power. Over the next 200 years the mosque cathedral, but apart from the conversion of sections of the was enlarged by Abd al-Rahman’s successors. building into chapels, little else changed. The new cathedral, Entered through the Patio de los Naranjos, pervaded by the which rises high above the roof of the mosque, was altogether scent of orange blossom in springtime, and where the different. When he visited Cordoba, Charles was fountains were once used for ablutions, the prayer hall is a disappointed: ‘They have taken something unique in the world forest of over 850 marble, granite and jasper columns and destroyed it to build something you can find in any city.’ supporting two tiers of red and white banded horseshoe True, perhaps, but it is worth considering that the mosque arches, creating an impression of height and space. Historical may have survived precisely because a Christian church was allusions abound: many columns and capitals are Roman or built within it. Visigothic, horseshoe arches are adopted from Visigothic Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D. Monday 9 October Arrive The tour commences at Casablanca Airport. Your tour leaders will be waiting in the arrivals hall to meet the Emirates Airlines flight at 12.30pm, before departing by coach for the ninety-minute journey to Rabat. Upon arrival we visit the archaeological museum and its collection of Neolithic carving and small bronzes from Volubilis and Chellah. Overnight Rabat (D) Tuesday 10 October Rabat This morning we visit the archaeological site of Chella, which combines a Merenid necropolis built over the Roman city. We then continue to the elaborate mausoleum of Mohammed V which houses the tombs of the nation’s recent kings; considered a masterpiece of Alawite architecture. After lunch, we explore the cliff top Kasbah les Oudaias, which features 12th century fortifications, narrow streets and whitewashed houses that are still inhabited today. Overnight Rabat (B, L) Wednesday 11 October Meknes & Volubilis Above: standing guard at the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat; beautiful Heading east we travel to Meknes. Our touring includes Bab mosaics are preserved in situ in the ruins of the villas at Volubilis el-Mansour, Meknes main gate, the medina, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the Dar Jamai Museum. After lunch we Below: Bab Boujeloud gate at the entrance to the labyrinthine, Fes el Bali explore Volubilis, an important Roman trading post and administrative centre on the south-western border of the empire before travelling to Fes in the afternoon. Overnight Fes (B, L, D) Thursday 12 October Fes This morning we visit the excellent collection at the Dar Batha Museum, a converted 19th century Moorish Palace. We see the displays of carved wooden furniture, clothing, musical instruments and carpets. The pottery room has a superb display of ceramics from the 14th century. Entering Fes medina, we pass through Bab Boujeloud gate and visit the Bou Inania Madrasa. We continue past the Fondouks, used as workshops and warehouses to the Chaouwara Tanneries. Leaving the medina, we head to a tile factory to see the Zellij tiles being made by hand. Overnight Fes (B, L, D) Friday 13 October Chefchaouen Today we travel through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, a delightful mountain village defined by the blue washed buildings lining the cobbled streets. The old medina here has Moroccan and Andalusian influences, with red-tiled roofs and bright blue walls adorned with flower pots. We explore the compact medina and the Kasbah, that now contains a lovely garden and small ethnographic museum. Overnight Chefchaouen (B, L) Saturday 14 October To Tangier Continuing towards Tangier, we stop at the world heritage listed town of Tetouan which served as the capital of the Spanish protectorate when it encompassed much of Northern Morocco.