24 June 19, 2015 Travel Agenda Bethlehem, Palestinian territories: June 19th-22nd The Bet Lahem Live Festival links local communities to global action with an exten- sive list of local and interna- tional performers in activi- ties ranging from concerts, workshops, parades, theatre productions, conferences, movie screenings, educa- tional engagement tours and art exhibitions. Tunis, Tunisia: June 20th-July 15th Tunis celebrates art during Ramadan through the 33rd edition of the Medina Festi- val. Concerts of instrumental Andalusian Malouf music, ethnic bands are programmed in venues of the old city of Medina. Artists from Tuni- sia, Egypt, Libya, Spain and France will be present. This The expansive courtyard at the Al-Khandaq Mosque is part of the SR 26 million project for the renovation of the historic site. year’s edition is a tribute to the Tunisian woman artist. Sousse, Tunisia: The Seven Mosques of Medina June 21st-June 23rd Sousse, on the Gulf of Ham- mamet, is the site for the Mohammed Al-Yenbaawi historic mosques is al-Fath mosque 34th Sousse Music Festival. on the side of Sela mountain. Con- Concerts of instrumental mu- structed between 705 and 711, it sic with Tunisian and French Medina was refurbished in 1179. Ottoman artists are scheduled over Sultan Abdul Majid I rehabilitated three days. audi Arabia’s holy city of it in 1851. At the entrance, visitors Medina, perhaps more than scribble the names of family and Dubai: any other municipality in friends on the wall while giving June 22nd-July 6th Sthe kingdom, treasures its prayers for them, although Saudi historic sites. Guests can- authorities strongly discourage the The History and Art of Arabic not only make their religious jour- practice. Calligraphy features works ney, but also take in the city’s his- Twenty metres south of al- from 28 artists from the tory. This is particularly true due Fath is the Salman Al-Farisi United Arab Emirates, the to Medina’s significance in Islamic mosque, named for the Prophet Middle East and Spain. The history and the city’s efforts to pre- Mohammed’s companion, Salman, exhibition explores Arabic serve landmarks exemplifying tra- who suggested that Medina calligraphy through the ages, ditional Turkish architecture. residents dig the trench to defend covering its many formats and The Seven Mosques is one such the city against Quraish invaders. techniques. The works of art landmark, site of the Battle of A striking feature of the mosques on display will be presented Trench, or Ghazwa-e-Khandaq, is their small size, indicating a in the form of three-dimen- found on the western edge of Sela sparse population of the region sional sculptures and panels. mountain. Here, outnumbered during the time of the Prophet. Muslims dug a trench to defend The Salman Al-Farisi mosque has Jounieh, Lebanon: Medina from Quraish tribes. The just a single 7-metre-long hall that July 2nd-15th mosques are today important sites measures only 2 metres wide. Its for Muslims to visit during Umrah construction began in 1179 and also Jounieh International Festival, and Hajj. underwent refurbishment under set near the panoramic Bay Sultan Abdul Al-Majid, according to of Jounieh, north of Beirut, The mosques are Alyeenbawi. kicks off with a spectacular The Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq mosque fireworks show on the beach. today important is 15 metres southwest of the Sal- This year the festival show- sites for Muslims man Al-Farisi mosque, and named cases French rocker Johnny to visit during after Abu Bakr, the first caliph who Hallyday, stand-up comedian made his Eid prayers there. Djemal Debbouze and the Umrah and Hajj Just a few metres south lay the tour of France’s The Voice Omar bin Al-Khattab mosque. The finalists and semi-finalists. On a recent visit to the Seven details of its origins are vague, al- Mosques, Ibrahim Alyeenbawi, a though its name indicates that Beirut, Lebanon: native of Medina, guided his visi- Omar bin Al-Khattab, the second July 10th-13th tor through the history of the six caliph, may have had prayed there. Visitors take time to meditate between the call for prayer and to ancient mosques and the seventh The mosque features the same ar- teach young children mosque etiquette. Notre Dame de Paris, a French modern structure as dozens of tour chitectural characteristics as the musical, is staged with a fresh buses bringing the faithful from In- Al-Fath mosque, indicating they all-star cast. This world tour donesia, Malaysia and South Asia were constructed during the same Zahra Mosque. Its distinction is it is into the city. Visitors are encour- started in Asia and stops in filled the car park. period. The mosques, in fact, are even smaller — 4 metres by 3 me- aged to visit Masjid Al-Qiblatain Lebanon before scheduled “These mosques are closed now utilitarian and without adornment. tres. The centrepiece of the Seven and the Grave of Hamzah after they dates in Europe and North for restoration, but people continue High on the hilltop above these Mosques historic site is the modern pray at the Prophet’s mosque (Mas- America. to come from all around to under- structures is the Ali bin Abu Talib Al-Khandaq mosque at the base of jid An-Nabi). The refurbished Otto- stand how Muslims from long ago mosque, which is in poor condition the mountain. It boasts a central man railway station, housing the Agadir, Morocco: performed their prayers,” Alyeen- and measuring only 8.5 metres long court and twin minarets. Hejaz Railway Museum, is a perfect July 22nd-25th bawi said. and 6.5 metres wide. A short dis- The Saudi Ministry of Municipal example of Ottoman architecture The most significant of the six tance to the west is the Fatimah Al- and Rural Affairs began renovation that has influenced Saudi building The 12th edition of the annual of the six old mosques in 2009, but designs in surrounding neighbour- Timitar Festival takes place in only the $7 million Al-Khandaq hoods. Agadir and features inter- mosque renovation was completed national and local perfor- yet. What you should know mances. This year’s edition includes international artists How to get there Central Medina is open only to Alpha Blondy, Hani Shaker Muslims. However, non-Muslims and many others. Flights from London to Medina have access to the outlying areas of via Jeddah start at about $700. If the city marked by specific zones. driving from Jeddah, take Route A favourite venue for non-Muslims We welcome submissions of 4050 north to Medina about 410 is Mada’in Saleh, a pre-Islamic ar- kilometres. The drive is about four chaeological site dating to the first calendar items related to hours. century. Mada’in Saleh is about cultural events of interest 375 kilometres north of Medina via to travellers in the Middle What to do Route 328, about a 4-hour drive East and North Africa. from the city. It’s recommended that Muslim visitors stop at the Quba mosque Mohammed Al-Yenbaawi is an Please send tips to: Visitors take a peek at one of the historic mosques to the east of when first arriving in Medina to per- Arab Weekly contributor in Saudi [email protected] the modern Al-Khandaq Mosque. form two raka'as before continuing Arabia..