Discover the legacy of Al-Andalus as we explore the architecture of Córdoba and Granada
Highlights include the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Granada’s famous Alhambra and Generalife – all UNESCO World Heritage sites
Learn about the wider heritage and context of this beautiful region of Spain
In 711, Tariq ibn-Ziyad crossed the Straits of Gibraltar, quashing the previous Visigothic rule, sweeping through the Iberian peninsula and establishing Al-Andalus: Islamic Spain. With its regional capital in Córdoba, a leading cultural and economic centre in the Mediterranean basin, advancements in many fields – including science and culture – ensued. Medicine, astronomy, literature, music and philosophy developed throughout the land, while expansions in art and architecture are still visible today in the region's stunning buildings, mosques and gardens.
At the heart of Córdoba’s Islamic inheritance lies one of Europe’s greatest buildings: the Mezquita, the Great Mosque, with its forest of columns under double-tiered arches, superb mihrab and series of domes. The structure was transformed into a cathedral during the 13th century. At the behest of Abd al-Rahman III, the huge fortified palace city of Madinat al-Zahra was founded on the hills outside Córdoba, with building beginning in 940. Visits to the archaeological museum, constructed over the remains of the Roman theatre, will illuminate the city’s history from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.
Other highlights of our time in Córdoba will include a walking tour by the Guadalquivir River, and a visit to the Alcázar with its Moorish-design gardens, containing cypresses, orange and lemon trees and water features.
We will then continue to Granada, a major city during the 11th century and home to the famed Alhambra of the Nasrid Sultans and the adjoining Generalife with its evocative gardens. In the 13th century, Granada became the capital under Nasrid rule and was the last Islamic-ruled state in the Iberian peninsula.
A visit to the Renaissance cathedral and Royal Chapel in Granada, where we will see the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, will emphasise the remarkable blending of Islamic and Christian traditions in the region. Built by Queen Isabella after the conquest of Granada, the cathedral is located on the former site of the ancient mosque.
We also hope to visit one of Spain’s best preserved alcazabas in Malaga, as well as the cathedral, located within the bounds of the original Moorish walls.
In Córdoba, our base will be the four-star Hotel NH Collection Amistad, a smart, well-located hotel occupying 18th century mansion buildings, while in Granada we will stay at the four-star Hotel Barceló Carmen, a comfortable, well-appointed property in the heart of the city.
Meg Bernstein
A lecturer in medieval art, Meg has taught courses on Medieval visual culture, materiality and architecture at a variety of institutions across the US and UK.
This tour will be led by Meg Bernstein, PhD. Meg is an art historian specialising in medieval European art and architecture. She earned her PhD in Art History from UCLA in 2019, following earlier degrees from Smith College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Yale University. A lecturer in medieval art, Meg has taught courses on medieval visual culture, materiality and architecture at a variety of institutions across the US and UK.
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£3595
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