Fez & its Islamic Attractions: madrasas & mosques

The most mystical of Morocco's imperial cities, Fez was founded in AD 808 by the Moroccan ruler saint Moulay Idris II and under his rule became the capital and spiritual center of Morocco. 

The city is situated in a narrow valley against the backdrop of the Middle Atlas, and positioned on the old crossroads of caravan routes connecting the Saharan empires like Timbuktu and Takrur with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean shipping lanes. 

Due to this, Fez has remained a commercial centre for much of its history. Today it is still considered Morocco's premier religious city by virtue of its Islamic traditions.

In 1250 Fes regained its capital status under the Marinid dynasty. The principal monuments in the medina, the residences and public buildings, date from the Marinid period. The madrasas are a hallmark of Marinid architecture, with its striking blending of Andalusian and Almohad traditions. Between 1271 and 1357 seven madrassas were built in Fes, the style of which has come to be typical of Fassi architecture.

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

Madrasa Bou Inania

he Madrasa Bou Inania was built between 1350 and 1357 by the Merenid sultan Bou Inan. The Madrasa (madrassa - Islamic school of learning) is a sumptuous architectural gem and one of Morocco's most gorgeous buildings. 

Up until the 1960s this was still a functioning theological school and the restoration efforts since that time have restored it to its original beauty. 

The carved woodwork is magnificent and the rooftop offers a spectacular view of Fes.

 

 

Madrasa el-Attarine

Another example of fine Merenid architecture, the Madrasa el-Attarine was built in 1325 by Abu Said.

The courtyard here is a wonderful display of the intricate decoration from this period, with elaborate zellige tile-work and cedar woodcarvings.

The upper floor is made up of a warren of cells, which were once home to students of the Qaraouiyine University (now mosque). If you climb up to the rooftop you can get great views of the Qaraouiyine Mosque itself.

 

  

 

Bab Chorfa and Bab Boujiloud

The grand gates of Bab Chorfa and Bab Boujiloud mark the main entry into Fes el Bali (Old City). As you approach, them you get wonderful views of the neighbourhood's famed landmark: the minaret of the Madrasa Bou Inania, which sits just after the Bab Boujiloud gate .

  

 

Fes el Bali (Old City)

Fes el Bali is the city's oldest neighbourhood and, within its rambling streets, there are two distinctly different districts divided by a meandering river. 

The left bank is home to the most historic monuments and the majority of the shopping souks, while the right bank may be scruffier but is full of local life and photogenic alleyways. 

The entire Old City is a walker's delight with plenty of opportunities to explore and soak up the atmosphere of Fes life. 

The Old City is thought to be one of the largest surviving of its type in the world.

 

Qaraouiyine Mosque

Built in 857 AD by Tunisian immigrants from the holy city of Kairouan, the Qaraouiyine Mosque was one of the medieval period's most distinguished universities. 

 Today, in its function as a working mosque, it is one of Morocco's largest centres of worship with a prayer hall that can hold 20,000. 

The library is one of the oldest surviving in the world and contains over 30,000 books. 

Among the collection is a 9th century Qur'an

 

Souks District and Tanneries

For shoppers, Fes el-Bali is a paradise of local craft-work with colourful Moroccan slippers, leather-work, metalwork, rainbow-glass lamps and tiles all displayed at stalls throughout the district.

The streets just west of the Qaraouiyine Mosque have the greatest concentration of shopping opportunities. This is also where you'll find Fes' famous Chouara tannery.

Here you can watch the traditional dying of animal skins - the first step in making Morocco's many leather products.

Fes el Jedid

The Merenids built this "New City" in the 13th century when they realised that Fes el Bali would be too small to contain their palaces.

 The rather grand Royal Palace takes central stage here, and behind it mosques and medersas fill the host of lanes.

There's a tranquil air to this small section of the city, which sits between bustling Fes el Bali and the European-style Ville Nouvelle, and it makes a welcoming peaceful lull between these two faster-paced worlds.

Bou Jeloud Gardens and Batha Museum

The Boujiloud Gardens is home to the Batha Museum.

Located inside a Hispano-Moorish palace built in the late 19th century, this museum houses traditional Fes art like woodcarvings, wrought-iron work, embroidery, carpets and jewellery.

The centrepiece of the museum is the pottery room, where the famous Fes blue ceramics, coloured with cobalt, are featured.

Mosque of al-Andalusiyyin

Built in 1321, the Al-Andalus Mosque is noted for its prominent green and white minaret, which actually dates back to the 10th century. 

Nearby you'll find a variety of interesting other monuments including an old fondouk (khan or caravanserai) and the crumbling Madrasa al-Sahrij

 

Madrasa al-Sahrij

Madrasa al-Sahrij is one of two connected madrasas built near the Mosque of al-Andalusiyyin by the Marinid heir to the throne 'Ali b. 'Uthman II, Abu al-Hasan (r. 1331-1348). 

 Madrasa al-Sahrij was finished first in 1321/720 AH, and Madrasa al-Sebai'yin was completed two years later. Madrasa al-Sahrij was first known as al-Madrasa al-Kubra (the Great Madrasa), because it was larger than the other madrasas which were built at the same time. It came to be known later as the Sihrij Madrasa in reference to the large rectangular water basin (Arabic sihrij) that occupies the center of its patio.

The plan follows the ubiquitous model of Marinid madrasas in Fez: a rectangular court is surrounded on its lateral sides by galleries giving onto student rooms, and a wide but shallow prayer hall.

The central courtyard is lavishly decorated with carved stucco, glazed tiles, and carved cedar wood, characteristic of the Marinid translation of Nasrid palatial materials and techniques into a religious context. 

The contrast between sumptuous ornament in the courtyard and the spartan accommodations for the students in all of the Marinid madrasas may reflect the multiple functions of these buildings. 

The madrasas often served as mosques for their respective quarters and as settings for official ceremonies. With the addition of associated charitable functions like guesthouses and waqfs, or endowed properties which supported the madrasa's upkeep, to their primary role as religious schools, the madrasas functioned as important centers of community life. 

The courtyard, as the most public of the spaces within the madrasa, was therefore the focus of the ornament that would highlight the generous image of the madrasa's founder.

 

 

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The Great Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor, and the result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Its gleaming newness and tremendous wealth is a stark contrast against the rest of Casablanca.

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

History of Hassan II Mosque

The great Hassan II Mosque was commissioned by its namesake, King Hassan II, in part to provide Casablanca with a single landmark monument. On his birthday, July 9, 1980, the king declared:
Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, construction of the Hassan II Mosque began in July 1986 on land reclaimed (without compensation to the former residents) from a run-down area near the sea. The goal for completion of the mosque was King Hassan II's 60th birthday in 1989, but it ended up not being finished until August 30, 1993.

The project is estimated to have cost as much as $800 million, funds that were remarkably raised entirely from public subscription. International reports have suggested both local resentment and less-than-voluntary donations to the project, but Moroccans seem to be genuinely proud of their monument. The massive fundraising also had a positive side-effect: it temporarily reduced Morocco's money supply and brought down inflation.

Nearly all the materials of the Hassan II Mosque are from Morocco, with the sole exceptions of the imported white granite columns and glass chandeliers (from Murano, near Venice). The marble is from Agandir, the cedar wood is from the Middle Atlas and the granite comes from Tafraoute.
Over 6,000 Moroccan master craftsmen and artisans were employed to work these local materials into the intricate decorations that embellish the entire structure. When construction passed its deadline in the early 1990s, 1,400 men worked by day and 1,000 worked by night to bring the vast project to completion.

What to See at Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is open to all Muslims at daily prayer times and for special Friday services.

The most distinctive characteristic of the Hassan II Mosque is its spectacular location (see aerial view below) on a platform over the Atlantic Ocean. Uniquely, part of the mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea. Unfortunately, this wonderful feature is mainly for royal use and is off-limits to visitors.

Above, an automated sliding roof opens (on special occasions) to the heavens. Thus the faithful of Casablanca can indeed contemplate God's sky and ocean in accordance with Hassan's wishes.

At 689 feet, the Great Mosque's minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world. At night, lasers shine a beam from the top of the minaret toward Mecca, "to point the way to God." The building was designed to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor and electric doors.

The style of the Hassan II Mosque displays strong Moorish influences, bringing to mind the Alhambra and Mezquita in Spain. Horseshoe arches prevail both outside and in, and the walls and columns of the interior are delicately carved in a variety of intricate patterns.

There is a huge women's gallery on the right as you face the prayer area, which is beautifully carved of dark wood. The prayer area in the back is spacious and carpeted in red. Downstairs are Turkish-style baths and fountains for washing.

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Casablanca, the Morocco’s commercial capital

Home to Morocco's primary international airport, Casablanca is the main gateway into the country for many visitors, and often their first taste of the country. This city is an industry and business powerhouse, and compared to the exotic charms of Marrakesh and Fes it can't compete. There is a European touch to much of its architecture, and the city has a modern swagger that is unseen in other parts of the country.

Although Casablanca's tourist sights and attractions may not be as obvious as those elsewhere, you will find some gems if you dig a little deeper. The Medina district is a charming area and much smaller (and easier to navigate) than those elsewhere. And the colossal Hassan II Mosque is top of the list on most sightseeing checklists.

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

1 Hassan II Mosque

On the shoreline, just beyond the northern tip of Casablanca's Medina (Old City), the Hassan II mosque dominates the entire city. Finished in 1993, it is the second largest mosque in the world, covering 2 ha in size with the world's tallest minaret (200 m high). The prayer hall can accommodate 25,000 worshippers while the courtyard (which boasts a retractable roof) can fit another 80,000.

Astonishingly intricate decoration covers every centimetre of surface.

The location, situated right on the tip of the rocky bay above the ocean, is thoroughly dramatic. Non-Muslims can visit the mosque on guided tours, which begin at the mosque's western entrance several times per day.

2 Medina

Although Casablanca's Old City district may not have as much exotic atmosphere as the Medina's of Fes and Marrakesh, the maze-like tumble of alleyways still hides much to discover.

Authentic tradesmen sell their wares to shoppers with the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker all accounted for. It's a rambling and ramshackle neighbourhood with an authentic residential feel, and a great place to feel the pulse of Casablanca life.

There are also a some interesting holy men koubba's (shrines) in the Medina's southern section.

3 Place Mohamed V

Place Mohamed V is the central plaza of Casablanca. It is home to many of the city's important official buildings, including the main post office, Palace of Justice, Prefecture, French Consulate and the main Bank of Morocco. The building facades all sport the neo-Moorish style that French Resident-General Lyautey planned out for the city as he set about modernising Casablanca in the early 20th century. The square has a central fountain and well-tended gardens. During the evenings, it is a local favourite spot for promenading.

4 Corniche

Casablanca's Corniche (beachfront district) is the city's vortex for those who want to see-and-be-seen. Much of the shoreline is now home to luxury hotels and restaurants. During the day, the many beach clubs here do a roaring trade with sun worshippers lapping up the rays and splashing in the club swimming pools. Further along the shoreline is the public beach.

 

5 Cathedral du Sacre Coeur

This graceful cathedral was built in the 1930s and its architecture is a harmonious blend of both European and Moroccan style.

It's unfortunately been left to whither in the past few decades, and is now in need of serious restoration.

But even in its current dilapidated state, the structure is still beautiful. Nearby is the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Lourdes, which is lit by a vast stained glass window covering more than 800 sq m.

6 Central Market

Casablanca's bustling central market is a must for tourists who want to throw themselves into the midst of city life.

Right in the city centre, this is where locals come to buy and sell - be it housewives bartering for vegetables or grocers yelling out their special deals. It's a great opportunity for photographers and great fun for everyone else.

You'll find everything here from plastic bowls to Morocco's famous slippers.

Location: Rue Allal Ben Abdallah

 

7 Mohammedia

This sleepy seaside city offers some fine beaches, and is a relaxing alternative to staying in Casablanca. Although home to Morocco's second largest port, Mohammedia and its tranquil charms haven't been affected by the industry. The little Medina is a delight to wander through, while the New Town area is attractively laid out with grand, palm-tree lined boulevards. On the coast, it's all about the beach. Cafes and restaurants here bustle with activity on summer weekends when half of Casablanca seems to escape to Mohammedia's sand.

Location: 28 km north of Casablanca

8 Safi

Safi has been an important port since Roman times, but it was the Almohade rulers who surrounded the city with grand ramparts and made it an intellectual and spiritual centre.

The Portuguese occupied the city in 1508 and added to the architecture by building the stately Dar el Bahar Fortress on the shoreline - now the town's most recognisable monument. Safi is Morocco's most famous ceramic centre and once you've visited the fortress,

Safi's Medina is a great place to spend an afternoon. Pottery Souk and the National Ceramic Museum are the Old Town's star attractions.

Location: 237 km south of Casablanca

9 Oualidia

This charming seaside village has a chilled out vibe that's perfect if you're worn out after visiting Morocco's imperial cities. The lovely beach and the Saadian kasbah are reason enough for a trip here, but for many others Oualidia is all about the oysters.

Oualidia's oyster beds are famed throughout the country. Local restaurant menus list oysters and plenty of other seafood, making the town a highlight for any traveling foodie.

Location: 182 km south of Casablanca

10 Azemmour

When tourist boards started promoting Morocco's Atlantic coastline, they somehow forgot little Azemmour from the list. But this village has a history stretching back to Punic times and a wonderful handful of sites showcase that long tenure. The adobe ramparts encircling the Medina area are an obvious attraction and they connect to the kasbah (fortress) that dates from the 16th century.
The beach is also one of the best along the Atlantic coast - and is a well kept secret. Indeed, half of Azemmour's charm lies in the fact that nobody else seems to stop off here.

Location: 88 km south of Casablanca

11 El Jadida

For a little town, El Jadida is packed full of interesting sightseeing attractions and is surrounded by beautiful strips of sand, perfect to flop onto when you've dosed up on history. In the Citadel, you can scramble up the walls for excellent sea views and then visit the old prison, which also once functioned as the town's synagogue.

Also in the citadel, look for the atmospheric cisterns which date from the 16th century.

Location: 102 km south of Casablanca

History

The origins of Casablanca can be traced to the medieval town of Anfa, which is now one of the city's suburbs. Anfa became the capital of a Berber principality in the aftermath of the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. The Berbers embraced Islam but quickly succumbed to heretical doctrines, setting up their own prophet and a Qur'an in Berber language.

The principality was known as Berghouata, and its tribal inhabitants joined a Kharijite rebellion against the Arab governor of Tangier. In the 11th century the Almoravids waged holy war against these heretics who were finally defeated by the Almohad Sultan Abdul Mou'min. The town came under the influence of the Merinids during the 13th century, but eventually became independent as the dynasty weakened. The Portuguese destroyed the town in 1468 in reprisal for piracy. Portugal sent a fleet of 50 vessels and 10,000 soldiers to occupy the town, which was sacked and then abandoned. But piracy soon revived and the Portuguese returned in 1515 and destroyed the town once again.

In 1575 the town was rebuilt, fortified and renamed Casa Branca by the Portuguese in an attempt to establish control over the area. However, the Portuguese rulers fell under constant attack by surrounding Muslim tribes and were finally forced to abandon the town following a terrible earthquake in 1755. Under the reign of Sidi Mohamed ben Abdallah (1757-1790) the town was rebuilt with a mosque, medrassa, hammam and a fort and renamed Dar Al Beida (The White House), which the Spanish eventually translated as Casablanca.

Text shared from http://www.planetware.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fez فاس, the imperial city of Morocco

Fes or Fez  (Arabic: فاس‎, Moroccan Arabic [fɛs], Berber: Fas) is the third largest city of Morocco, with a population of approximately 1 million.

 Fes was the capital of Morocco until 1925, and is now the capital of the Fès-Boulemane administrative region. The modern Turkish name for Morocco, Fas, originally referred only to the capital city.

The city has two old medinas, the larger of which is Fes el Bali. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is believed to be one of the world's largest car-free urban areas. Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning madrasa in the world. The city has been called the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa".

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

History

Etymology

The name is probably taken from the word Fazaz, the old Berber name for the Middle Atlas mountains near the city. The name is also attested as that of a Berber tribe living south of Fes. Today, Ait Fazaz is the name of a small town just west of Meknes.

Until the Almoravid rule in the 11th century, Fes consisted of two cities or medinas: Madinat Fas and Al-'Aliya, the former being founded by Idris I, the latter by his son, Idris II. During Idrisid rule the capital city was known as Al-'Aliya, with the name Fas being reserved for the separate site on the other side of the river: No Idrisid coins have been found with the name Fes, only al-'Aliya and al-'Aliya Madinat Idris. It is not known whether the name al-'Aliya was ever referred to both medinas. It wasn't until 1070 that the two agglomerations were united and the name Fas was used for the sites.

Foundation and the Idrisids

The city was founded on a bank of the Jawhar river by Idris I in 789, founder of the Zaydi Shi'ite Idrisid dynasty. His son, Idris II (808), built a settlement on the opposing river bank. These settlements would soon develop into two walled and largely autonomous sites, often in conflict with one another: Madinat Fas and Al-'Aliya. In 808 Al-'Aliya replaced Walili as the capital of the Idrisids.

Arab emigration to Fez, including 800 Andalusi families of Berber descent in 817–818 expelled after a rebellion against the Umayyads of Córdoba, and 2,000 Arab families banned from Kairouan (modern Tunisia) after another rebellion in 824, gave the city a more Arabic character than others of the region.

The Andalusians settled in Madinat Fas, while the Tunisians found their home in al-'Aliya. These two waves of immigrants would subsequently give their name to the sites 'Adwat Al-Andalus and 'Adwat al-Qarawiyyin. An important aspect of the city's population was of North-African Berber descent, with rural Berbers from the surrounding countryside settling there throughout this early period, mainly in Madinat Fas (the Andalusian quarter) and later in Fes Jdid.

Upon the death of Idris II in 828, the dynasty’s territory was divided among his sons. The eldest, Muhammad, received Fes. The newly fragmented Idrisid power would never again be reunified.



During Yahya ibn Muhammad's rule in Fes the Kairouyine mosque, one of the oldest and largest in Africa, was built and its associated Al-Qarawiyyin Madrasa was founded (859). Comparatively little is known about Idrisid Fes, owing to the lack of comprehensive historical narratives and that little has survived of the architecture and infrastructure of early Fes (Al-'Aliya). The sources that mention Idrisid Fes, describe a rather rural one, not having the cultural sophistication of the important cities of Al-Andalus and Ifriqiya.

In the 10th century the city was contested by the Caliphate of Córdoba and the Fatimids of Tunisia, who ruled the city through a host of Zenata clients. The Fatimids took the city in 927 and expelled the Idrissids, after which their Miknasa were installed there. The Miknasa were driven out of Fes in 980 by the Maghrawa, their fellow Zenata, allies of the Caliphate of Córdoba. It was in this period that the great Andalusian ruler Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir commissioned the Maghrawa to rebuild and refurnish the Al-Kairouan mosque, giving it much of its current appearance. According to the Rawd al-Qirtas and other Marinid era sources, the Maghrawi emir Dunas Al-Maghrawi filled up the open spaces between the two medinas and the banks of the river, dividing them with new constructions.

Thus, the two cities grew into each other, being now only separated by their walls and the river. His sons fortified the city to a great extent. This could not keep the Almoravid emir Ibn Tashfin from conquering it in 1070, after more than a decade of battling the Zenata warriors in the area and constant besieging of the city.

In 1033, several thousand Jews were killed in a massacre.

Golden age and the Marinid period

Madinat Fas and Al-'Aliya were united in 1070 by the Almoravids: The walls dividing them were destroyed, bridges connecting them were built, and connecting walls were constructed that unified the medinas. Under Almoravid patronage the largest expansion and renovation of the Al-Kairouan mosque took place (1134-1143). Although the capital was moved to Marrakech and Tlemcen under the Almoravids, Fez acquired a reputation for Maliki legal scholarship and became an important centre of trade. Almoravid impact on the city's structure was such that the second Almoravid ruler, Ibn Tashfin, is often considered to be the second founder of Fes^.

Like many Moroccan cities, Fes was greatly enlarged in the Almohad era and saw its previously dominating rural aspect lessen. This was accomplished partly by the settling there of Andalusians and the further improvement of the infrastructure. At the start of the 13th century they broke down the Idrisid city walls and constructed new ones, which covered a much wider space. These Almohad walls exist to this day as the outline of Fes el Bali. Under Almohad rule the city grew to become the largest in the world between 1170 and 1180, with an estimated 200.000 people living there.







In 1250 Fes regained its capital status under the Marinid dynasty. In 1276 after a massacre by the population to kill all Jews that was stopped by intervention of the Emir, they founded Fes Jdid, which they made their administrative and military centre. Fez reached its golden age in the Marinid period, which marked the beginning of its official, historical narrative. It is from the Marinid period that Fes' reputation as an important intellectual centre largely dates. They established the first madrassas in the city and country.The principal monuments in the medina, the residences and public buildings, date from the Marinid period.


The madrasas are a hallmark of Marinid architecture, with its striking blending of Andalusian and Almohad traditions. Between 1271 and 1357 seven madrassas were built in Fes, the style of which has come to be typical of Fassi architecture.

The Jewish quarter of Fes, the Mellah was built in 1438, near the royal residence in Fes Jdid. The Mellah at first consisted of Jews from Fes el Bali and soon saw the arrival of Berber Jews from the Atlas range and Jewish immigrants from Al-Andalus. The Marinids spread the cult of Idris I and encouraged sharifism, financing sharifian families as a way to legitimize their (in essence secular) rule: From the 14th century onwards hundreds of families throughout Morocco claimed descent from Idris I, especially in Fes and the Rif mountains. In this regard they can be seen as the enablers of the latter sharifian dynasties of Morocco. A revolt in 1465 overthrew the last Maranid sultan. In 1474 the Marinids were replaced by their relatives of the Wattasid dynasty, who faithfully (but for a large part unsuccessfully) continued Marinid policies.

Modern period

In the Early Modern Age, the Ottoman Empire came close to Fez after the conquest of Oujda in the 16th century. In 1554, the Wattasid Dynasty took Fez with the support of the Turks, and the city became a vassal of the Ottomans, who finally conquered it in 1579 under sultan Murad III.



The Ottoman power in North Africa focused on threats posed by Habsburg Spain and the Portuguese Kingdom. As a result, Fez was not under pressure from the Ottoman rulers. The conquest of Fez was the catalyst for the move of the capital city of the Saadi Dynasty to Marrakech. Early in the 17th century the town returned to Moroccan control under Ahmad al-Mansur.

After the fall of the Saadi Dynasty (1649), Fez was a major trading post of the Barbary Coast of North Africa. Until the 19th century it was the only source of Fez hats (also known as the tarboosh). Then manufacturing began in France and Turkey as well. Originally, the dye for the hats came from a berry that was grown outside the city, known as the Turkish kızılcık or Greek akenia (Cornus mas). Fez was also the end of a north-south gold trading route from Timbuktu. Fez was a prime manufacturing location for leather goods such as the Adarga.

The city became independent in 1790, under the leadership of Yazid (1790–1792) and later of Abu´r-Rabi Sulayman. In 1795 control of the city returned to Morocco. Fez took part in a rebellion in 1819-1821, led by Ibrahim ibn Yazid, as well as in the 1832 rebellion led by Muhammad ibn Tayyib.
Following the implementation of the Treaty of Fes, the city was heavily damaged in the 1912 Fes riots.^[23]
 
Fez was the capital of Morocco until 1925. Rabat remained the capital even when Morocco achieved independence in 1956.

Despite its traditional character, there is a modern section: the Ville Nouvelle or "New City". Today it is a bustling commercial center. The popularity of the Fes has increased since the King of Morocco took a computer engineer from Fes, Salma Bennani, as his wife.

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Travel the halal way and discover Spain & Morocco in this 9 days tour

Here you have an example tour! You can make your tailor made trip fill in a request trip in our web

Day 1 ARRIVAL TO BARCELONA (L, D)
The group will be received at the airport by a local Muslim Guide. Transfer for Barcelona city tour: starting at Las Ramblas, famous for its shops, restaurants and theatres, continue to Montjuic for a Panoramic view of Barcelona. After lunch, visit Parc Güell and Barcelona Olympic Park.
After dinner at la Bacerloneta neighborhood, transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2 BARCELONA-MADRID (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will visit the beautiful work of world famous architect Antonio Gaudi: La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila.
After lunch, proceed for transfer to Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Dinner and overnight stay in Madrid. 

Day 3 MADRID (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will spend a full day visiting Madrid. We’ll introduce you
to the city’s highlights: Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Real Madrid Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Cibeles, Palacio Real, etc. Afterwards, we will enter some of the most iconic monuments of the city: Palacio Real and Prado Museum. Lunch and dinner will be served at local restaurants.
Overnight stay in Madrid.

Day 4 MADRID-CORDOBA (B, L, D)
After breakfast, proceed for transfer to Cordoba, the capital of the Caliphate, where you will visit the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the third largest mosque in the world.
You will also visit the old Arab and Jewish quarters where the group will have dinner.
Overnight stay in Cordoba.

Day 5 CORDOBA-GRANADA (B, L, D)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed for transfer to Madinat az-
Zahra, an enigmatic complex built for Abd Ar-Rahman III. Afterwards, continue our trip to Granada, the last kingdom of Al-Andalus.
After lunch, the group will enjoy a nice walk around the Albayzín, a neighborhood of Al-Andalus origin, ideal for taking pictures. Dinner and Overnight stay in Granada.

Day 6 GRANADA  (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day in Granada. The day will start with a visit to the amazing Alhambra palaces, which include the Akasar, the Nazari Palaces and finally the Generalife gardens and summer palace.
After lunch, enjoy some free time for shopping in the city center and the old Arab quarters of el Albayzin.
Dinner and overnight stay in Granada.

Day 7 GRANADA-MARBELLA(COSTA DEL SOL) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Marbella, famous spot in Costa del Sol.
We will visit Malaga´s highlights: Gibralfaro´s Castle, The Alkasar, the Roman Theater and the Cathedral.
After a nice lunch at Torremolinos, continue to Marbella where the group will enjoy some free time for walking around the beach and watch sunset.
Dinner and overnight stay in Marbella.

Day 8 MARBELLA-GIBRALTAR-RABAT (B, L, D)
Early in the morning, we will head towards Gibraltar. We will cross the strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa to Tangier, the city where Tariq Ibn Ziyad served as governor before starting the conquest of the IberianPeninsula. We will continue traveling until we reach

After lunch, proceed for transfer to Casablanca, the economical capital of Morocco. Dinner and overnight stay in Casablanca. the capital of Morocco, Rabat.

Enjoy a quick tour of Rabat. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy a relaxing dinner. Overnight stay in Rabat.

Day 9 RABAT-FES-CASABLANCA (B, L, D)
After breakfast, proceed for transfer to Fes, where after the group will enjoy a walking tour of the old medina with a local guide. The old medina is a beautiful labyrinth of intrinsic narrow streets. We will visit several mosques and madrasas, as well as the world famous leather tanneries.
       
Day 10 CASABLANCA DEPATURE (B)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel. If time permits, we will visit Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the World and the group will enjoy some final shopping at Morocco´s mall, the largest of its kind in Africa.

Proceed for transfer to Casablanca airport for departure.

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Travel the Halal Way & Discover Italy in this 6 days/5 nights Tour

1ST DAY – ARRIVAL TO MILAN

Arrival to Milan Fiumicino Airport. Transfer to the hote for early check-in. Breakfast provided. Evening free and easy Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Milan.

2ND DAY – MILAN

Full day visiting Milan. The visit includes Victor Manuel II gallery, Piazza della Scala, the Cathedral, etc.

Lunch at a halal local restaurant.Dinner at local halal restaurant.

Overnight in Milan

3RD DAY – MILAN TO ROME (3 HOURS)

Full morning at Fidenza Village for your shopping. Then transfer to Milan's train station for your fast train to Rome.

Check-in at the hotel upon arrival and free evening.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Rome.







4TH DAY – ROME

Full day visiting Rome. The visit includes Coliseum, St Peters Basilica, Spanish Steps and the Grand Mosque of Rome. Lunch will be conducted in a halal local restaurant.

Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Rome.

5TH DAY – ROME

Morning free and easy at your own leisure. Car disposal and guide with you.

In the afternoon, transfer to Castel Romano Shopping Village for your shopping experience.

Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Rome.

6TH DAY – DEPARTURE FROM ROME

Morning free and easy before your transfer to the airport. Early lunch provided.

End of the services.
 

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Travel the halal way and discover Holland France & Italy in this 12 days tour

Day 1 ARRIVAL TO AMSTERDAM (D)

Arrival to Amsterdam's airport. Pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel and group meeting to describe the program. Then, transfer for a city sightseeing tour of Amsterdam and transfer for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 2 AMSTERDAM (B, L, D)

All day free and easy for your own leisure! Enjoy the city discovering it yourself. Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 3 AMSTERDAM (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we will start the day visiting Volendam, Marken and the windmills for the best pictures of Holland! Then, we will go to Gassan’s diamonds factory for a guided tour inside. In the afternoon, and after lunch, canal cruise in a typical “Amsterdamer Boat”.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 4 AMSTERDAM-BRUSSELS-PARIS (B,

L, D)

After breakfast, and early in the morning, we will depart to the south towards Paris. But before getting to “la ville de l’amour”, a must see city awaits us on the way: Brussels.

We will have a panoramic view of the city with the coach and lunch in a local restaurant. Also we will have Jumu'a prayer at Great Mosque of Brussels. Once we reach Paris, check-in at the hotel and some rest before transfer for dinner. Overnight in Paris.

Day 5 PARIS (B, L, D)

In the morning, we will start with a panoramic view of the city with the coach.

Day 10 PISA-ROMA (B, L, D)

Today, after a quick visit of Pisa, we will reach our final destination: Roma. The capital of the greatest empire ever. Feel amazed by the evidences of such a great civilization: the Coliseum, The Roman Forum and by the vestiges of the Renaissance like the Trevi Fountain. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Roma.

Day 11 ROMA (B, L, D)

Today in the morning we will continue the visit St. Peter Basilica and the Spanish Steph and perform Jumu'a prayer at The Grand Mosque of Rome. After lunch, free afternoon, giving you time enjoy the streets of this ancient city. Overnight in Rome.

Day 12 DEPARTURE FROM ROMA (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

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Sacromonte, the Flamenco&Gipsy Quarter in Granada

Sacromonte, meaning "sacred hill" is at the very top of the valley at the edge of the Albayzin, called Valparaiso outside the old city. With stunning views of the Alhambra on the left and the Albayzin on the right, Sacromonte forms the Gitano (Gypsy) quarters of Granada. During the day it is a pleasant stroll to explore the architecture comprised of small, whitewashed buildings and "caves" built into the hillside.


At night Sacromonte awakens with multiple, hole-in-the-wall Flamenco bars that truly come alive only when most of the city begins its nightly slumber. To experience Gitano culture in its most raw form, the Flamenco music, song and dance found in these clubs are often completely impromptu as various Flamenco singers, dancers and musicians put together a mosaic of sound and movement to the delight of their onlookers.


The history of the Sacromonte is significant in that its name is derived from the Sacromonte Abbey, which in many respects is central to Granada's transition from Moorish stronghold to its current Catholic identity.  The abbey is said to be built over the catacombs of the bones of Saint Cecilio, the patron saint of Granada, and has been key in the propagation, whether fabricated or re-discovered, of the city's pious origins.


The legend states that the catacombs are the site of Saint Caecilius's martyrdom, and the abbey preserves Lead Books of Sacromonte.

The supposed relics of Caecilius and eleven other saints' bones, ashes and the oven in which they were believed to have been burned. It also possesses the inscribed lead plaques and books that were found with the supposed relics, but which were subsequently officially dismissed as forgeries.

The Morisco population of Granada had been expelled to other parts of Spain following the Morisco Revolt of 1568 (except for those few trusted Moriscos who had served in the royal forces, and who were permitted to remain in the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin adjacent to Valparaiso). By the 19th century, the area had become home to a substantial Gitano community, who built their homes in caves excavated from the soft rock of the hillside. The area became famous for Flamenco music and dancing, but major floods and forced evacuations in the 1960s left the neighborhood population dramatically reduced. Since the early 1990s, however, the area has slowly become developed as a tourist attraction, and as a centre of Gitano culture.

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Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, Cordoba (Spain)

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Spanish for "Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs"), also known as the Alcázar of Córdoba, is a medieval Alcázar located in the historic centre of Córdoba, Spain next to the Guadalquivir River and near the Grand Mosque. The Alcázar takes its name from the Arabic word القصر (Al-Qasr, meaning "the Palace"). The fortress served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.

History

In early medieval times, the site was occupied by a Visigoth fortress. When the Visigoths fell to the Umayyad conquest of Hispania, the emirs of the Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus rebuilt the structure. The Umayyads fell to the Abbasid Caliphate and the surviving member of the Umayyad Dynasty, Abd ar-Rahman I, fled to Córdoba. Abd ar-Rahman I's successors established the independent Caliphate of Córdoba and used the Alcázar as their palace. 

The city subsequently flourished as an important political and cultural center, and the Alcázar was expanded to a very large compound with baths, gardens, and the largest library in the West. Watermills on the nearby Guadalquivir powered water lifting to irrigate the extensive gardens.

In 1236, Christian forces took Córdoba during the Reconquista. In 1328, Alfonso XI of Castile began building the present day structure on part of the site for the old fortress. Other parts of the Moorish Alcázar had been given as spoils to the bishop, nobles, and the Order of Calatrava. Alfonso's structure retained only part of the Moorish ruins but the structure appears Islamic since Alfonso used the Mudéjar style.

The Alcázar was involved in the civil war where Henry IV of Castile faced a rebellion that backed his teenage, half-brother Alfonso. During the war, the Alcázar's defenses were upgraded to deal with the advent of gunpowder. At the same time, the Alcázar's main tower, now known as the "Inquisition Tower" was constructed.

Henry's successor, Isabella and her husband Ferdinand used the Alcázar for one of the first permanent tribunals of the Spanish Inquisition and as a headquarters for their campaign against the Nasrid dynasty in Granada, the last remaining Moorish kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. The Inquisition began using the Alcázar as one of its headquarters in 1482, converting much of it, including the Arab baths, into torture and interrogation chambers. The Inquisition maintained a tribunal here for three centuries. Boabdil was held prisoner here in 1483 until he promised to make Granada a tributary state. When Boabdil refused to surrender his kingdom in 1489, the Christians launched an attack. Isabella and Ferdinand's campaign against Granada succeeded in 1492. The same year, the monarchs met Cristóbal Colón in the Alcázar as he prepared to take his first voyage to the Americas.

The Alcázar served as a garrison for Napoleon Bonaparte's troops in 1810. In 1821, the Alcázar became a prison. Finally, the Spanish government made the Alcázar a tourist attraction and national monument in the 1950s.

Description

The Alcázar centers on the Patio Morisco ("Courtyard of the Moriscos"), another popular feature. There are two towers: the Torre de los Leones ("Tower of the Lions) and the Torre de Homenaje ("Tower of Homage"). The latter has Gothic features including an ogival ceiling.

A series of Roman mosaics and a Roman sarcophagus are displayed in the Inquisition Tower.

More about Córdoba in our blog:

- Great Mosque of Cordoba/Mezquita-Catedral 

- The Calahorra Tower and its "Al-Andalus living museum"

-‎ Madīnat az-Zahrā  مدينة الزهراء 

- Top FIve Must See Thing in Córdoba, Spain 

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