Travel the halal way and discover.... Park Güell in Barcelona!

Park Güell was an attempt to create a housing estate in a natural setting in the old village of Gràcia: an ambitious property development project commissioned by Gaudí’s patron, Eusebi Güell. 

The architect chose an uneven site covering a surface area of 15 hectares where 40 detached houses were to be built. Only two were actually completed, and Gaudí lived in one of them.


It is now a museum devoted to the architect’s life and work. Gaudí prepared the site of Park Güell between 1900 and 1914, showcasing his urban-planning concerns by building paths, arcades and viaducts that were fully integrated into Barcelona’s natural surroundings.

Gaudí’s characteristic vivid imagination is revealed in the different elements that amaze visitors from around the world that visit 
Barcelona. The gatehouses, which were originally designed as the caretaker’s house, are now home to the Park Güell Interpretation Centre. 

The flight of steps, with its famous dragon covered in coloured broken-ceramic pieces, leads to the hypostyle hall, an impressive space comprising 86 columns which underpins the plaza above. The curving bench around the perimeter of the plaza was designed by Jujol, one of Gaudí’s associates in the construction of this unique park in the old village of Gràcia which has been declared a World Heritage Site

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Video: Discover the Spanish Muslim Comunity in Andalusia

 

Video: Discover the Spanish Muslim Comunity in Andalusia

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Travel the halal way and discover... The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the home of Real Madrid

The route of this visit includes the dugouts, presidential box, press room, changing rooms, player's tunnel and trophy room, and ends in the club shop. 

Add this excursion to your travel! It will be unforgetable.
For more information send us a Request Trip

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Travel the halal way and discover.... Camp Nou and the F.C.BARCELONA Museum.

The tour begins at the visiting team changing room from where -and through the tunnel- you will reach the ground. Once there, you will be able to walk on the grass, seat down on the team bench and contemplate the Camp Nou magnificence. 

The tour also includes a visit to the Chapel, the TV Room, the Press Room, the Fundacio Zone and the Presidential Box. Last but not least, you will be offered the possibility to rise the European Champions Cup with your own hands.

Do not miss this fantastic opportunity! Visit the stadium of one of the most important teams in the world. Go into the locker rooms and know the Club’s history at the museum.

Add this excursion to your travel! It will be unforgetable. For more information send us a Request Trip

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Travel the Halal Way and discover the Royal Alcazars of Seville

You can visit this city in our tour Spain & Morocco of  10days / nights

The Alcázar of Seville (Spanish "Reales Alcázares de Sevilla" or "Royal Alcazars of Seville",  is a royal palace in Seville, Spain, originally a Moorish fort. The palace is renown as one of the most beautiful in Spain. It is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe, and it was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the Seville Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies.

The construction of the fort was ordered by Abd Al Ramn III, Caliph of Al-Andalus, in the year 913, which was changed into a fortified palace during the 11th century. In the 13th century, Seville now being in the hands of Castile, King Alfonso X ´the Wise´ extended it further.

3D orientation map of the Alcazar palace, Seville - Andalusia, Spain.

 
Pedro I, "the cruel" (1350 to 1369), made significant additions to the palace which is one of the most important examples of Mudejar architecture in Seville. The numerous rooms, patios and halls vary in architectural styles from the Islamic to Neoclassical. The beautiful gardens and fountains are specially worth visiting.

Also wanting to make their mark, the Alcázar was even further ´improved´ on by later kings; for example, the 16th century Emperor Charles V added elements in Gothic and Renaissance style to the palace.

Since the Alcázar has a century´s long history of expansions and renovations, one of the coolest things about it is it´s mixture of architectural styles. But the unavoidable highlight and an absolute must-see is the Mudejar Palace of Peter I (followed closely by the Gardens).

Interesting parts of the Alcazar

Horse shoe arches at the entrance of the ambassadors

Salon de los Embajadores (The Ambassadors Room): The magnificent dome of the Ambassadors Room is decorated with gilded cedar wood sculptures.

Arcos de Herradura (Horse Shoe arches): The Ambassadors Room is decorated with tiles and complex plaster work. It shows a beautiful example of the typical horse shoe arches.

El patio del yeso (plaster)

El Patio de la Montera (The Hunting Patio): This was the meeting place of the court before the hunt took place. The faade of the palace of Pedro I is a unique example of Mudejar design.

El Patio del Yeso (The Plaster Patio): This beautiful, ornate garden full of flowers and streams maintains elements of the almohade architectural style of the Moors from the 12 century.

El patio de las doncellas (maidens)

 Patio de las Doncellas (Patio of the maidens): This patio was decorated by the best architects in Granada. Patio del Crucero is above the ancient baths.

Salones de Carlos V (Rooms of Charles V): The rooms and chapel of Charles V are decorated with tapestries and coloured tiles from 16 Century.

El Patio de las Muñecas (The Patio of the Dolls): This patio with its bedrooms and adjacent corridors was the heart of the palace. It takes its name from the two tiny faces that decorate its arches.

The Gardens of the Alcazar Palace

Gardens of the Alcazar Palace

 These gardens, adorned with fountains and pavilions, provide shelter from the hustle and bustle of Seville. 

Jardin Inglés (English gardens). These gardens are modelled on those of the British Isles from 18 Century. The door to the Alcoba is of Islamic origin. The park was built in 1909 and the main gardener of the Real Casa de Campo, Juan Gras, was put in charge of planting the flowers. However, there are doubts as to whether his radical style fits in with the surroundings.

Jardin de los Poetas (The Garden of the Poets) The design of this garden is similar to that of the Forestier thanks to the influence of Joaquin Romero Murube. It's most emblematic feature is the two ponds that were inspired by the Arabs and Romans.

The english gardens at the Alcazar palace

 Jardin de la Vega Inclan (Garden of Vega Inclan) This is a well designed garden inspired by the Damas even though it lacks the refinement that had once existed. This garden consists of 20 mostly square flower beds that are separated by paths and fountains. These gardens took their inspiration from Islamic culture and the Renaissance.






Jardin de la Alcubilla (Garden of the Reservoir): This garden existed during the time of Charles V.

Jardin de la Alcubilla

In 913 the Caliph of Al-Andalus (modern Andalusia) ordered the construction of a castle there, which was changed into a fortified palace during the 11^th century. In the 13^th century, Seville now being in the hands of Castile, King Alfonso X ´the Wise´ extended it further.

About a hundred years later, King Peter I ordered the construction of one more palace on the site. Nowadays, this gorgeous palace is considered to be one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture – a symbiosis of Christian and Moorish techniques and architecture; the two cultures living side by side at the time.

Also wanting to make their mark, the Alcázar was even further ´improved´ on by later kings; for example, the 16^th century Emperor Charles V added elements in Gothic and Renaissance style to the palace.

Since the Alcázar has a century´s long history of expansions and renovations, one of the coolest things about it is it´s mixture of architectural styles. But the unavoidable highlight and an absolute must-see is the Mudejar Palace of Peter I (followed closely by the Gardens).

- See more at: http://travelersinnseville.com/516/the-history-of-the-royal-alcazares-of-seville#sthash.RDaSRMUX.dpuf

In 913 the Caliph of Al-Andalus (modern Andalusia) ordered the construction of a castle there, which was changed into a fortified palace during the 11^th century. In the 13^th century, Seville now being in the hands of Castile, King Alfonso X ´the Wise´ extended it further.

About a hundred years later, King Peter I ordered the construction of one more palace on the site. Nowadays, this gorgeous palace is considered to be one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture – a symbiosis of Christian and Moorish techniques and architecture; the two cultures living side by side at the time.

Also wanting to make their mark, the Alcázar was even further ´improved´ on by later kings; for example, the 16^th century Emperor Charles V added elements in Gothic and Renaissance style to the palace.

Since the Alcázar has a century´s long history of expansions and renovations, one of the coolest things about it is it´s mixture of architectural styles. But the unavoidable highlight and an absolute must-see is the Mudejar Palace of Peter I (followed closely by the Gardens).

- See more at: http://travelersinnseville.com/516/the-history-of-the-royal-alcazares-of-seville#sthash.RDaSRMUX.dpuf

In 913 the Caliph of Al-Andalus (modern Andalusia) ordered the construction of a castle there, which was changed into a fortified palace during the 11^th century. In the 13^th century, Seville now being in the hands of Castile, King Alfonso X ´the Wise´ extended it further.

About a hundred years later, King Peter I ordered the construction of one more palace on the site. Nowadays, this gorgeous palace is considered to be one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture – a symbiosis of Christian and Moorish techniques and architecture; the two cultures living side by side at the time.

Also wanting to make their mark, the Alcázar was even further ´improved´ on by later kings; for example, the 16^th century Emperor Charles V added elements in Gothic and Renaissance style to the palace.

Since the Alcázar has a century´s long history of expansions and renovations, one of the coolest things about it is it´s mixture of architectural styles. But the unavoidable highlight and an absolute must-see is the Mudejar Palace of Peter I (followed closely by the Gardens).

- See more at: http://travelersinnseville.com/516/the-history-of-the-royal-alcazares-of-seville#sthash.RDaSRMUX.dpuf

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Ishbiliya إشبيلية, the muslim Seville

You can visit this city in our tour Spain & Morocco of  10days / nights

The Islamic kingdoms of medieval Spain are legendary for their artistic and architectural glories. They are also famous, although perhaps at times through rose-tinted spectacles, for centuries of co-existence between Muslims, Jews and Christians, and for the flowering of a rich culture which drew on the best of the Religions of the Book.

Nowadays, the best-known (and most visited) of the cities of these medieval kingdoms are Granada, home to the Alhambra palace, and Cordoba, site of the breathtaking Mezquita mosque with its forest of red and white arches.

But Seville, now a sprawling modern city, also deserves recognition for its Islamic-influenced cultural heritage.

Torre del Oro and Guadalquivir River

Seville was founded as the Roman city of Hispalis, and was known as Ishbiliya (Arabic:إشبيلية) after the Muslim conquest in 712.

During the Muslim rule in Spain, Seville came under the jurisdiction of the Caliphate of Córdoba before becoming the independent Taifa of Seville; later it was ruled by the Muslim Almoravids and the Almohads until finally being incorporated into the Christian Kingdom of Castile under Ferdinand III in 1248

The Moorish urban influences continued and are present in contemporary Seville, for instance in the custom of decorating with herbaje and small fountains the courtyards of the houses. However, most buildings of the Moorish aesthetic actually belong to the Mudéjar style of Islamic art, developed under Christian rule and inspired by the Arabic style. Original Moorish buildings are the Patio del Yeso in the Alcázar, the city walls, and the main section of the Giralda, bell tower of the Seville Cathedral.[8]


Centuries of Islamic Architecture

The most prominent remnant of Seville's Islamic past is La Giralda, the towering minaret of a 12th century Almohad mosque, which became the city's Catholic cathedral after its conquest by Saint Ferdinand in 1248. At 320 feet high, La Giralda was once the tallest tower in the world. Modeled on the minaret of the Kutubiyya mosque in Marrakech, it has a sister in the Hassan Tower at an uncompleted mosque in Rabat.

La Giralda, the towering minaret of a 12 th century Almohad mosque

The modern-day cathedral was begun in the late 14th century, after the Great Mosque was pulled down, but it still holds the tomb of Saint Ferdinand. The tomb's inscriptions celebrate Ferdinand's achievements not only in Castilian and the monastic language of medieval Christianity, Latin, but also in Hebrew and Arabic. And Ferdinand's son, Alfonso, tried to make Seville a centre for Arabic scholarship and translation, losing out to the long-established academia of Toledo. 


Floodlit at Night


La Giralda's golden stone glows softly, towering over the busy nightlife of the old quarter of Seville whose narrow streets remind visitors of their original character as the city's souk. In the square around the foot of the tower are citrus trees, bearing the Seville oranges famous the world over.

Alcázar of Seville

Just seconds' walk away – close enough for first Muslim and then Christian kings to reach their place of worship through a private tunnel – is the site which has been home to several generations of royal palaces, of the Almohad dynasty and the later Christian kings.


The present occupant of the site is the spectacular Alcazar palace; its name is a corruption of the Arabic al qasr. Its ornate plasterwork – which incorporates repeated Arabic scripts, including the phrase Wa la ghalib ill Allah – "There is no victor but Allah" - is a reflection of the splendors of the Alhambra in Granada, and its tile work also draws heavily on Muslim Andalucian designs. No casual visitor, wandering the Alcazar's courtyards, would be likely to guess that it was commissioned by a Christian monarch.

But the palace – although built around structures which may date as far back as the Umayyad period of the 10th and early 11th centuries, when their Caliphate centered on Cordoba - was completed by workmen who had spent several generations building Granada's Alhambra, and who were then lured west by the Christian king Pedro the Cruel.

Ibn Khaldun, the great philosopher of history, whose distant ancestors hailed from Seville before they fled the Almoravid conquest of the city in the 11th century, visited Seville during his travels around Andalucia in 1364-5, when the ornate plasterwork of the Alcazar was only just dry. Pedro the Cruel tried to persuade him to stay, offering him his family's historical lands, as well as high office – but his interest in the one remaining Muslim kingdom in Spain, Granada, won out.

The Andalucian Melting-Pot  

The Alcazar's cultural, artistic and religious mixture epitomizes the blurring of religious and cultural lines in Andalucia, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived and worked alongside each other and where Muslim and Christian armies often fought alongside one another against rival small kingdoms, or taifas.

One of the most famous figures of the period was El Cid (a corruption of the Arabic sayyid, 'lord'), described by writer Maria Rosa Menocal as “this Christian warrior with the Arabic name [who] was leading troops into battles between one Muslim and another,” who fought for the King of Seville in late 11th century battles against Granada. He became the hero of a great epic poem in medieval Spanish, and finally of a Hollywood movie.

Another was Samuel the Nagid, the Jewish vizier of Granada, who helped maintain his city's military strength under the Berber King Habbus al-Muzaffar in the 11th century, and who conquered Seville in 1039 for Habbus' son Badis.

For centuries this patchwork of Muslim and Christian kingdoms, with their shifting alliances, fostered a vibrant artistic life. It did not, perhaps, rival the scale of the Madinat as-Zahra in Cordoba, built by Abd ar-Rahman III at the height of the Caliphate and lost for a millennium after it was sacked in the civil war that brought down the Umayyads in Spain. But its creations do include the Alhambra in Granada, the Alcazares of Seville and of Segovia and Carmona, and the fashion for Mudejar craftsmanship lived on even after the Christian conquest of Spain was completed in 1492, with noble palaces commissioned in this style for decades to come.

According to Professor Maria Luise Fernandez, of Caracas University, the strength of Islamic artistic traditions even carried it to the Americas. Mudejar designs can, she says, be found in Spanish colonial architecture in cities such as Mexico City, Quito and Caracas, and in the 'azulejo' style of blue tilework – from al-zulaij, colloquial Arabic for ornamental tiles – which became associated with towns such as Puebla in Mexico.

Poet-Kings and Philosophers

But the glories of Seville's Muslim past are not only in its visual architecture.
In her book on the centuries of Muslim kingdoms which made up medieval Andalucia, Ornament of the World: how Muslims, Jews & Christians created a culture of tolerance in Medieval Spain, Menocal refers to 11th century Seville as “the poetry-mad Abbadid taifa of Seville.” The rivalry between Seville and the neighboring taifa of Toledo was, says Menocal, as much about the cities' cultural profile as their military strength.

“Military and cultural ambitions were purposefully intertwined and their Seville became the new haven for poetry in al-Andalus,” continues Menocal. “The Abbadid-sponsored academy of poets played all sorts of important roles in poetic history, attracting poets from inside and outside the peninsula and leaving us an important diwan, or anthology, of the poetry of the period.”
Mutamid Ibn Abbad, the last king of the Abbadid dynasty, was not only a great patron of the arts, but is considered one of the greatest Andalusian poets in his own right. Andalucian poetry spanned topics from romantic love to political satire, and al-Mutamid's own work ranged from praises of his wife:
"Invisible to my eyes, thou art ever present to my heart. Thy happiness I desire to be infinite, as are my sighs, my tears, and my sleepless nights! Impatient of the bridle when other women seek to guide me, thou makest me submissive to thy lightest wishes" [The Poems of Mu'Tamid, King of Seville, translated DL Smith, 1915]

And to celebration of his own military victories:

“I have won at the first onset The hand of the lovely C?rdoba; That brave Amazon who with sword and spear Repelled all those who sought her in marriage. And now we celebrate our nuptial in her palace, While the other monarchs, my baffled rivals, Weep tears of rage and tremble with fear.” [The Poems of Mu'Tamid, King of Seville, translated DL Smith, 1915]

A monument to Seville's “poet-king” and his “sad overthrow” by the Berber Almoravids, who he had supported against Christian rivals in the naïve belief that he could then expel them from his own lands, is still to be found in the grounds of the Alcazar.
 

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Mazapán (from Arabic موثابان mawthābān), an arab sweet born in Toledo in Al-Andalus

Travel the halal way to Toledo (Spain) and discover this delicius andalusian sweet, mazapán (from Arabic موثابان mawthābān)


This sweet is made from peeled and ground raw almonds, kneaded with sugar, which is usually shaped to form small figures. The most famous marzipan is made in Toledo, and its production is protected by a Protected Geographic Indication (PGI). This city has a long history of marzipan making, although its origin is unclear. According to some, marzipan was created by the Arabs: the word comes from 'mahsaban', which is applied to all types of sweets made from almonds and other dried fruits and nuts. Others believe It's origin is in Spain, then known as Al-Andalus, in Toledo (850-900, though more probably 1150 during the reign of Alfonso VII) . 

In Toledo this specialty was known as Postre Regio (instead of Mazapán) and there are also mentions in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights of an almond paste eaten during Ramadan and as an aphrodisiac.

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Travel the halal way and discover Toledo, the city of the Three Cultures

Toledo (Tulaytulah) is located 42 miles (70 km) southwest of Madrid, on a large hill that juts up from the meseta (high plain) in the La Mancha region. It is surrounded on three sides by the Tajo river, serving as a natural fortress.

Since Roman times, Toledo served as a strategic location on the road from Emerita (modern Mérida in the southwest), to Caesar-Augusta (modern Zaragoza in the northeast). The city became the capital of the Visigoths. The conquest, without a fight, of the city by the Berbers of Tarik in the year 711, began the period of Muslim domination in which the Moors occupied Toledo for 373 years, a relatively short period, but their influence was enormous, both in the labyrinth-like layout of narrow and steep alleyways, of parapet walks that go nowhere, often with covered passageways on top, and in important architectural remains, such as the Bab-al-Mardum mosque, today known as Cristo de la Luz (the Christ of Light), built by Musa ibn Ali, among others.

Bab-al-Mardum mosque, today known as Cristo de la Luz (the Christ of Light), in Toledo

The religious tolerance of the Muslims allowed the Christians to co-exist with the Moors, and led to the appearance of the so-called Mozárabes-"Mozarabs"-who created a unique culture which would have far-reaching effects on architecture and decoration, as well as customs, vocabulary, literature and music. This situation also allowed the Jews to form a prosperous community, although their presence dated back to the Visigoth period.


In 1085, when Alfonso VI took the city walls with no bloodshed, many of the Muslim inhabitants decided to stay with the Christians and Jews. The harmony between the three cultures bore fruit as notable as the School of Translators of Toledo, renowned for having recuperated part of classical culture from various Arab documents. The Islamic legacy faded with time, and the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, expelled the Jews in the 15th century. However, the cultural mix in the city had been determined and can still be felt today.

Mazapán (from Arabic موثابان mawthābān)

Today, Toledo is known for its mazapan (marzipan), a pastry made with sugar, eggs and almonds. Persian immigrants introduced this delectable delight to Al-Andalus.


Toledo also has long been famed for its metalwork, particularly steel blades and other arms. Expert craftsmen produce these items in a style clearly reflecting Islamic origins.

Damasquinos

Jewelry and other articles of gold and black metal are called damasquinos. The term refers to the Syrian city of Damascus. The Umayyads came from Damascus to establish their rule in Iberia.

Toledo features a quaint Medieval quality, with narrow cobblestone streets and a variety of handicrafts. It has a population of about 75,000 inhabitants. In 1986, UNESCO designated the city as a World Heritage Site for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage.

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Travel the halal way and discover the Mosque of Granada

The opening of the Mosque of Granada in the summer of the year 2003 celebrates an historic reunion as it looks out in greeting towards the majestic silhouette of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada. The Great Mosque as the soul of the Alhambra promises to become a characteristic feature of the landscape of Granada.

The Mosque of Granada signals, after a hiatus of 500 years, the restoration of a missing link with a rich and fecund Islamic contribution to all spheres of human enterprise and activity.

The Mosque of Granada also reflects the undimmed vitality of the prophetic message encompassed in Islam and its immediate relevance to the current situation in Europe and the Western World. The renewed aspiration of European muslims today is to contribute to the amelioration of a world beset by intolerable dilemmas and every kind of injustice. The way of Islam offers natural and viable alternatives to the headlong and voracious impetus of the consumer capitalist system, which is destroying all human values and in consequence the humanity of the society in which we all share.

What is a mosque?

The word mosque originates from the Arabic word masjid which means 'place of prostration'. Prostration is the most visible expression of submission to the Creator of the Universe. The muslim prostrates 5 times a day, at dawn, midday, mid afternoon, sunset and finally when the light of day has completely disappeared from the sky.

Anywhere on earth, which is not in some way polluted, can be a place of worship and prostration. Nevertheless clean and protected places have always been reserved by muslims at the centre of their cities since the beginning of Islam as places for the congregational prayer, these places are known as mosques.

The mosque is at the heart of the muslim community and is not only a place of prayer. It is also a place for study and the transmission of knowledge. Some mosques were even schools and universities. The first mosques were also sites for local governance where decisions upon the affairs of the local community were taken and were also places of public gathering.

A series of charitable institutions built themselves on to the great mosques of the Islamic world. Notable amongst these were hospitals, hostelry for travellers, dining areas for the poor, orphanages, schools, public baths and often rent free market places. These various institutions reflected the cellular structure of a caring and generous society built purely on the principle of pleasing the Creator.

What is the Mosque of Granada like?

The Mosque of Granada is composed of three main, contrasting elements. These are the garden, the prayer hall (which is properly speaking the mosque itself) and the Centre for Islamic Studies.
The Garden looks out over the valley of the River Darro towards a vista of the Alhambra standing on the Mount of Sabika, etched against the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It has two fountains of classical andaluz mosaic surrounded by plants of local Mediterranean species, such as pine, olive, pomegranate, orange and lemon.

The Mihrab, prayer niche which indicates the direction towards Mecca, is an exact replica of the famous mihrab in the Mosque of Cordoba. Panels of cedar wood from the Atlas mountains carry a hand-engraved ayat of Qur'an listing some of the divine attributes. The multi-coloured marble tiles are identical to those of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The great 'Qibla' windows are replicas from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The mosaic fountain in the patio giving on to the prayer hall were manufactured according to a thousand year old andalusian design and technique by master craftsmen of Fez.

The Alminar - the minaret from which the call to prayer, the 'adhan', is given five times daily - is a tower designed and constructed in the original Albaicin style. Under the eaves it bears the Islamic declaration of faith in kufic lettering, 'There is no god but Allah - Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'.

The Centre for Islamic Studies has a library with texts on Islam in arabic, spanish, english and other languages as well as audio visual aids. It has a conference hall with a seating capacity for 140 people along with an exhibition area. The main reception area is on the lower floor in the entrance foyer where a bookshop, craft items and souvenirs of the mosque are located.

What are the main activities generated by the mosque?

The five prescribed daily prayers are offered in the prayer hall of the Mosque at their allotted times. The congregational prayer  'al Jumu'a' is celebrated at midday on Fridays.

There is a daily programme of recitation and study of the Qur'an and Islamic jurisprudence  for both adults and children throughout the year. There is also a continuous programme of conferences, arabic language classes, exhibitions and courses on subjects related to Islam and its legacy in Spain. All interested members of the public are welcome to attend.

There is also a point of contact for muslims in any kind of difficulty, offering assistence to the traveller.

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What is Halal Tourism?

The term ” halal tourism ,” which refers to the tourism offerings for practicing Muslims, represents a turnover of € 103 billion worldwide. This is a market that Spain wants to take a bigger share, thanks in particular, to its rich Islamic cultural heritage in Andalusia. Hence the organisation of the first conference on the subject in Granada on 22 and 23 September 2014 , where Alhamratour was present, under the auspices of the Halal Institute Cordoba was held.

SPAIN . The Alhambra in Granada, the Cordoba Mosque , the Giralda in Seville … the list of great monuments of Islamic cultural legacy in Spain is long.  The cultural wealth is mainly concentrated mainly in Andalusia, home to the recent ” halal tourism” International Conference held in Grenada by the London firm Creative Minds Media.

The Halal Institute of Cordoba advocates the development of one of the most promising tourist segments in the city. There are, obviously, quite a few reasons for this. First, because Spain, and, particularly, Andalusia, is a popular destination for Muslim tourists because of its 800-strong history. Second, it is the economic activity related to this type of tourism that justifies the development of a ‘ Halal tourism offering “, ie : a tour offering for practicing Muslims, particularly from clients in the Middle East . These tourists spend twice as much as the average in Spain , according to figures from Turespaña. Tourists from Saudi Arabia, for example, spend a budget of € 2,287 per person on their holiday, against 2,116 for those in the UAE , or € 1,703 for the Egyptian tourist. Compared with the average amount of € 956 per person spending for all holidaymakers in Spain, the amount spent by the Muslim tourists from the oil-rich Gulf states is much larger which can not be ignored.

Alhamratour in the Halal Conference 2014 in Granada (HTC2014)

The ” The Muslim Travel Index 2014″ study, presented in Granada during this international conference halal tourism, reveals another significant figure : aggregate expenditures on Muslim tourists represent a business volume of 103 bn € in the world . A big market where Spain wants to take more space . If the country is the world’s third -largest number of international tourists, it ranks only sixth place ranking Muslim tourists ( including behind France , Italy and Great Britain). Hence the importance for the Spanish tourism industry forward in welcoming Muslim tourists practitioners , representing about 10% of travelers in Andalusia, and an annual turnover estimated at € 387 million. In this sense, the Halal Institute of Cordoba has an important role as a body of recognized certification. Although the number of ” halal ” facilities so far remains very limited in the tourism sector in Spain , with only two restaurants and a hotel in Andalusia.

Muslim tourists visitting and praying in the Granada's Mosque

However, the changes proposed by the Institute of Cordoba formations stir more curiosity hoteliers. Fittingly , the study presented in Granada also shows that tourists from the Middle East are those who spend the most in terms of accommodation in Spain, namely € 129 on average per person per night , in front of the Chinese and Russian ( respectively € 115 and € 91 ) . “This is to recognize that the efforts against Muslim tourists can go beyond food ,” says Muhammad Escudero, director of Halal Certification Institute Cordoba : ” It is often the small details to make considered very important for these customers, as signaling the direction of Mecca , the layout of prayer space , information in Arabic, or absence of alcohol and pork … “

"A guarantee of quality"

Since this summer , Alanda Hotel Marbella is the first certified “halal” Spain hotel. A four star hotel bought by Saudi group Al Fawaz Hokair a year ago, and that has made this certification a marketing argument , as evidenced by the sales manager , Ignacio Gimenez . ” We do not serve alcohol or pork , which attracted obviously Muslims around the world committed to their religion ; but beyond this halal deposit also appeals to a broad customer base that holds the beneficial aspect of the process, especially since the certification involves traceability and therefore guarantees quality.

The absence of alcohol is not a drawback . Sometimes it is an asset for a family , Muslim or not customers looking for a relaxing holiday while enjoying the service and installation of a four-star hotel , the spa or the beach restaurant . In short, the ‘halal’ certification is a further guarantee of attention here that shows this month (September) of 86% occupancy rate. Evidence that the commitment does not interfere with the activity.

"We announce our halal recess policy when making reservations , and we have never been abandoned or even the slightest criticism ; customers may be surprised , but it’s always positive ,"said Ignacio Gimenez . 

These reactions now allow the company to consider an international hotel development with the same positioning ” halal ” .

Article by: halaltimes.com via www.econostrum.info

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Travel the Halal way and Discover the moorish Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is an intriguing destination for the curious traveler. The British territory is only 6.8 square

kilometers, making it easy to explore on foot, and its location at the entrance of the Mediterranean south of Spain makes it a good jumping-off point for further travels. The landscape is dotted with caves and tunnels, Gibraltar has a rich, swashbuckling history and its underlying Britishness makes it a perfect destination for pub- and tea-lovers who also crave the sunshine.

Gibraltar's Islamic history began with the arrival of Tariq ibn-Ziyad on 27 April 711 at the start of the Umayyad conquest of Hispania. The name of the city comes from the arabic Jabal-ı Tārıq (جبل طارق, "Mountain of Tariq" which name was later corrupted into "Gibraltar" by the Spanish.

The history of Moorish Gibraltar began with the landing of the Muslims in Hispania and the fall of the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo in 711 and ended with the fall of Gibraltar to Christian hands 751 years later, in 1462, with an interregnum during the early 14th century.

The Madinat al-Fath (City of Victory) was intended to be a major city furnished with palaces and mosques, but it seems to have fallen well short of the ambitions of its founder, the Almohad caliph Abd al-Mu'min, by the time it was captured by the Kingdom of Castile in 1309 after a short siege. Muslim control was restored in 1333 after another, much longer, siege. The city subsequently underwent a major expansion and refortification. A number of buildings and structures from this period still exist, including the Moorish Castle, parts of the Moorish walls, a bath-house and a subterranean reservoir.

Monkey in Gibraltar

Naturally, the main sight in Gibraltar is The Rock. The upper Rock's nature reserve offers spectacular views of the town and sea below. The reserve is also home to the only free-living primates on the entire continent. Over 240 Barbary Macaques thrive around the Apes' Den, an area close to the center cable-car station. According to local legend, the British will disappear from Gibraltar when the tailless apes do.

The British side of Gibraltar is most evident on Main Street. The pedestrianized drag is lined with cozy pubs, charming tea shops and busy restaurants. Although it looks like it could be a street in London, a distinctly Spanish lilt is still in the air, reminding visitors that they are indeed in Mediterranean Europe.

Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Mosque, Gibraltar

Not far from Main Street is the Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Mosque, a symbol of the religious and racial symbiosis of the territory's past. Opened in 1997, the mosque was built by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to feed the religious needs of Moroccans working on the Rock, and it is the largest mosque in the non-Islamic world.

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Alhamratour "Travel the Halal way" ¿Que es una Agencia de Turismo Halal?

‘Halal’ es un término que aparece mencionado en el Corán y que significa ‘permitido, saludable y beneficioso’, referido tanto a alimentación como a conductas para el musulmán.

Cuando un turista musulmán elige destino vacacional lo hace, en la gran mayoría de las veces, pensando en un lugar en el que tenga acceso a establecimientos que ofrezcan servicios acordes a su forma de vida y conforme a la ley islámica. 

Turistas musulmanes en el Patio de los Leones de la Alhambra 

Esto ha creado una demanda en el mercado del turismo en Andalucia, España y Europa en general, donde este tipo de turismo emergente está en proceso de adecuación para su posible explotación.

Así se ha puesto de manifiesto en el primer Congreso Internacional de Turismo ‘Halal’, donde Alhamratour estuvo presente, un foro pionero en Europa, celebrado hace solo unos días en Granada, donde  la industria del turismo mundial se dio cita para profundizar en las formas de aprovechar este nicho de mercado. En el evento se informó a los asistentes de las previsiones de este tipo de turismo y sus tendencias para dar a conocer este mercado de consumidores musulmanes.

Es en este contexto en el año 2013 cuando nace Alhamratour en Granada (Andalucia, España), agencia de turismo halal, formada íntegramente por trabajadores musulmanes españoles y otras nacionalidades para dar soporte a esta demanda.

Alhamratour durante la estancia del cliente clientes cuida al detalle para que solo consuma productos y servicios halal y  pueda disfrutar de sus vacaciones sin preocuparse de las cuestiones típicas al viajar a un país no musulmán.

Para ello Alhamratour acompaña, transporta y guía en todo momento al turista desde su llegada hasta su ida dentro de una amplia gama de destinos y actividades en Marruecos, España y resto de Europa, con la posibilidad de combinarlos en un solo tour. 

Los acompañamientos se realizan en español, árabe, inglés, francés y alemán entre otros.

Turistas visitando y realizando sus rezos en la Mezquita Mayor de Granada

Alhamratour aprovecha también el rico legado hispano-musulmán para dar un valor cultural añadido a sus servicios. Aparte de enseñar los monumentos más emblemáticos de cada lugar, hacemos especial incapié en mostrar el rico histórico legado andalusí existente en todo el territorio español, así como el entorno hispano-musulmán actual visitando las comunidades y mezquitas más representativas del lugar.

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Marbella confirma su liderazgo en el sector del Turismo Halal en España

‘Halal’ es un término que aparece mencionado en el Corán y que significa ‘permitido, saludable y

El Instituto Halal es la entidad que gestiona la Marca de Garantía Halal creada por la Junta Islámica de España, con sede en Córdoba, aplicada a alimentos, productos y servicios que desde empresas y entidades se ofertan a públicos de práctica islámica, tanto en nuestro país y en el ámbito de la UE, como para la exportación a países islámicos.
beneficioso’, referido tanto a alimentación como a conductas.

Cuando un turista musulmán elige destino vacacional lo hace, en la gran mayoría de las veces, pensando en un lugar en el que tenga acceso a establecimientos que ofrezcan servicios acordes a su forma de vida y conforme a la ley islámica. El turismo ‘halal’, todavía por explotar en España es, hoy por hoy, uno de los retos para los empresarios hoteleros y hosteleros del país. Así se ha puesto de manifiesto en el primer Congreso Internacional de Turismo ‘Halal’, un foro pionero en Europa, celebrado hace solo unos días en Granada. Marbella, como tantas otras veces en su historia, se sitúa ya en cabeza de carrera y estuvo representada en este encuentro a través de Alanda Hotel, el primero del país en obtener la certificación oficial.

Desde su compra, hace un año, por parte de la corporación empresarial saudí Fawaz Al Hokair, el Alanda Hotel Marbella –antiguo NH Alanda– ubicado en plena Milla de Oro, y a apenas 60 metros de la Mezquita del Rey Fahd, ha venido trabajando en la consecución de un certificado que cumple uno de los objetivos marcados por la propiedad: convertir el establecimiento en un referente para el turista musulmán. Desde que abrió sus puertas, el hotel mantiene varias normas: no ofrece bebidas alcohólicas en ninguno de sus restaurantes, ni tampoco cerdo y derivados.

Ello, como sostiene el director del Alanda, Fernando Portal, no ha disuadido a un buen número de clientes nacionales o británicos, que siguen siendo mayoritarios.

Desde hace unos días, en la puerta de entrada luce la placa que acredita al hotel ante el turista musulmán. El trabajo para conseguir el certificado ha sido intenso, basado en varias auditorías que han analizado no solo el servicio de restaurante y economato, sino el resto de departamentos «uno a uno». «Hemos tenido que aportar una ficha técnica, emitida por nuestros proveedores, de cada uno de los productos que tenemos en el economato», señala Portal «No cabe duda de que estamos hablando de un concepto nuevo que viene a ampliar la oferta hotelera de la Costa del Sol», resume.

Espacios para el rezo

Habilitar más espacios en los que poder rezar, tener habitaciones orientadas a la Meca o señalizas, preservar un horario distinto de piscina para las mujeres y los hombres son algunos de los puntos en los que deben trabajar los hoteles que optan a la certificación del Instituto Halal de España. De momento, en el establecimiento marbellí no se planten hacer esta última distinción de horarios para el baño. Sí se ha señalizado la Meca en las habitaciones y se ha confeccionado un ‘kit’ que se entrega a los clientes y que contiene alfombrilla para el rezo. Igualmente se restringe la programación televisiva, en la que no se ofrecen programas o películas de contenido violento, erótico o pornográfico.

Del mismo modo, los restaurantes disponen de menús que se adaptan a la estricta dieta musulmana. La filosofía ‘Health’ (sano) se ha convertido en seña de identidad de un establecimiento que ha hecho de sus zumos naturales –tan perseguidos por las ‘celebrities’– en uno de sus principales reclamos durante el verano que acaba de finalizar.

Según las cifras que maneja el Instituto Halal, el turismo islámico deja en Andalucía más de 300 millones de euros año. La búsqueda de nuevos mercados para hacer que el sector turístico de la Comunidad siga creciendo llevará a nuevos hoteles a seguir la senda de Marbella.

Fuente: www.diariosur.es

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