Averroes Trip 2019

Depart from Paris

Arrival in Casablanca, head to Rabat the capital of Morocco today.

This item is not advised due to flight arrival time, it would cause us an extremely late arrival to Rabat and therefore an energy drain on the following days. Though the mosque is worth visiting, it is not in our view a priority over the main highlights of Rabat, Fez, and the mountain ride through Chaouen.

Check in at Hôtel Yasmine 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽💩💩💩💩💩* tuvimos que irnos de este hotel, y cambiamos por el de abajo, el de abajo es genial:

Wake up in Rabat to Discover Morocco

During our morning in Rabat, present-day capital of Morocco, wel visit the Palace of Hassan II, King’s Mausoleum and the old fortress towns, Udaya and Chella. Afterwards,

enjoy snacks and a nice walk before transferring to Marrakech where we will spend the night

Discover Rabat & Fes, Political vs Spiritual Capitals of Morocco

In the morning we will receive a formal introduction to Rabat , the capital of Morocco. Though brief, our time there will be valuable to highlight the capital of a culturally diverse and very rich country.

After this and depending on the time when we finish we may lunch at Rabat by the Atlantic or leave this for the main square at Mekness. Our intention is to move onto Mekness and check-inn to our hotel there for more comfort, then leave to Fez for an afternoon and evening visit there including dinner before returning to Mekness to sleep. The short 30 minute ride to Mekness after a quick first contact with the Medina in Fez, will allow us for a jump-start into the mountains next morning saving us the hazards of Traffic and so on the next day.

Check IN at Hôtel akouas

The City

Life in this sand-coloured city can seem provincial at times but this ancient feeingl only adds to its charm, and its sense of otherness: while donkeys still navigate the Medina as the main mode of transport for goods, you will see everything from cases of Coca-Cola to mattresses perched expertly and delicately atop the backs of docile beasts.

Fès is known for its handicrafts, and particularly for its famous blue and white tiles. Arabic is the main language in Morocco but French is widely spoken so it gets easier to get around compared to many other Arabic countries. People in Fès are exceptionally friendly and hospitable, and they love to talk to travellers and to proudly boast about their city. If you speak with locals for any length of time, be prepared to be invited to their house for tea – this is a genuine and innocent offer, so do not shy away from it, as it is a great way to get to know people and to get a feel for life here.

Do & See

As the third largest city in Morocco, Fès has a vast cultural heritage and a historic value for the region, and in the three districts Medina, Fès el Jedid and Ville Nouvelle, an ancient past meets the modern world: the decades of French rule in Morocco have left a unique influence that is visible in the infrastructure and cuisine. Be prepared that you can easily lose yourself in the many sights of the maze-like and car-free Old Town that, on the other hand, is absolutely worth the adventure. As the Medina is not for tourists only, due to its integral part in daily life, and in conducting business, you can here experience the traditional life.

Dining

Fès has a delightful dining scene with plenty of traditional Moroccan cuisine rounded out by chic European, an particularly French inspired eateries. Due to the temperate climate, many restaurants have outdoor gardens or patios, which add an enchanting element to the experience of traditional Moroccan food culture.

Cafes

No matter where you stop in Fès, you can always get Maghrebi mint tea, the traditional light sugared green tea with mint leaves that will refresh you throughout the whole day. Many of the cafés are delightfully French-inspired, with a delectable array of sweets and pastries. Note that most of the buildings in Fès shorter streets are not assigned numbers, so keep track of the streets' names only.

Shopping

Fès is a wonderland of shopping, with endless stalls in the medina, and quite a few there in particular. It is always expected that you will bargain over prices, and most shopkeepers give discounts for buying more than one item – also, the discount will grow with every additional item purchased.

Mountain Route into Chaouen, then Tangier ready for Spain.

On this day, having seen the more important Imperial and spiritual capitals of Morocco, we will start to experience it's rural livelihood and the richness of it's natural landscapes and mountains. Here we will come to know other cultural pockets present in Morocco which are very popular and important, the 'Jibly' mountain cultures which belong to different ethnic backgrounds we may consider 'arabised' Berbers indigenous to Morocco nowadays, particularly to the North.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chefchaouen

Check in at Mnar Castle

Check out at Mnar Castle

The route to Cordoba is 350km but we will break it down with stops at every 140 km for site viewing, meals and prayers at actual mosques available along the route.

Arrive at Tangier to take the ferry to Tarifa Sapain)

Day 1: Arrival & evening in Cordoba

During your first night in Cordoba we suggest you enjoy the lovely night time walks in the medina, around the Ummayad mosque, Cordoba‘s most ancient town ‘Medina alQadima’ the ancient Islamic town. We offer a choice for dinner at one of our favorite and recommended halal establishments within town.

Cordoba Highlight Tours

In the morning we suggest you take part in one of our 'City Guided Tours'. We also offer optional entertainment options and leisure time including shopping or walks around the modern or historical town. Our historical introduction tour to Cordoba's ancient Islamic ‘medina’ explores the most ancient town, ‘Madinat alqadima’ of Cordoba and it’s Ummaya Mosque. We also recommend a series of our favorite expositions and museums in town. While in Cordoba one must also take a short excursion to witness and explore the Ummayad's Government city of Madinat al Zahra the Caliph's ruling city, the 'Dar al Mulk' of Al-Andalus.

There are three active mosques in Cordoba worth visiting, a marvelous opportunity to meet some local Muslims while touring around town.

Further service standards and options are provided at the time of your booking. You must not leave Cordoba without visiting 'Plaza de La Corredera', 'Parque de Colón' where you will find and actual mosque open for Muslims to pray in today. There are also some expositions in town, worth a visit to widen your knowledge of popular culture and the historical roots of Cordoba.

Check in at Macia Condor Hotel Granada

Discover Granada & Albayzín walking Tour - GUIDED TOUR. GT-DGR

Enjoy an opportunity in discovering the ancient Muslim town or ‘Medina’ of Granada. We will be discovering the historical origin and growth of the city through its ancient walls and districts of our ancient town, the Albaycin.

Enjoy an opportunity in discovering the ancient Muslim town or ‘Medina’ of Granada. We will be discovering the historical origin and growth of the city through its ancient walls and districts.

Albaycin is the ancient town containing the most beautiful sites of modern Granada. The striking views of the Alhambra with the snow-topped Sierra Nevada Mountains blending into the unique landscape of the city and its surrounding. The tour takes us further through San Nicolas Square where we will find our local Mosque ‘Mezquita Mayor de Granada’. As we walk from the Albaycin to Sacromonte area to discover more ancestral and ‘sacred’ secrets of our city, we catch glimpses of the views from different angles and locations.

This tour is conducted by specialist guides who are duly accredited to perform such an introduction within the ancient town of Granada.

The confirmation of the visit requires a minimum of 5 people.

Your guide will provide a historical account with insight into the different areas and specific buildings within the Historical Center and the Albaycin. At the end of the tour, a free tea or lemonade will be provided at the lively Moroccan ‘souq’ shopping street.

From November to March at 16 o’clock and from April to October at 18 o’clock. The tour will be carried out in English or Spanish according to the majority of the public, we can also provide German, French and Arabic if there is a majority interested.

Once you make your booking, you will be sent a booking voucher by email containing all of the details of this tour: meeting point and the full itinerary draft. You should bring your voucher along with you to the starting point.

Please don’t be late, 5-minute courtesy will be provided only, before starting with the program. Bring comfortable clothing and footwear, and perhaps some water for the walk.

Alhambra Palace and the Royal Medina - GUIDED TOUR. GT-ALH 9h30 nazaries palaces

Includes:Tickets: Monuments included, yet not guaranteed until the booking confirmation is duly reached.

Your guide will provide a historical account with insight into the different areas of the government city and Palaces of Alhambra. At the end of the tour you will have free choice to visit the fortress or ‘Alkasbah’ structure, and then to head down to town centre, at 10 minutes walking through the forest. You can have lunch, coffee, tea or lemonade. You will find lively Moroccan ‘souq’ shopping streets behind the more modern street fronts.

Booking Voucher & Instructions

The tour will be carried out upon demand for any group size in English or Spanish according to the majority of the public, we can also provide German, French and Arabic if there is a majority interested.

Once you make your booking, you will be sent a booking voucher by email containing all of the details of this tour: meeting point and the full itinerary draft. You should bring your voucher along with you to the starting point.

Please don’t be late, we should all be punctual at the main entrance before starting the program.

The access to the main Palaces of Alhambra are timed, allowing a 30 minutes window to enter them, hence all timings will be placed around this time.Bring comfortable clothing and footwear, and it is recommendable to take some water for the walk.

EXCURSION TO ALPUJARA + WORKSHOP

After Breackfast road to madrid via Toledo

Check out at Macia Condor Hotel Granada

Check in at Madisol Hotel

MADRID, FROM MUSLIM FORT, TO CAPITAL OF MODERN SPAIN

An introduction to Madrid for first time visitors, or those who know it and want to know deeper beneath it's surface. As you walk the city we will reveal different cultural notes that being common knowledge to those born to the city, are not so obvious to those just passing by. We also aim to enlighten locals with a vision which takes us from the modern capital of Spain, to the former Muslim defensive post, named after the apple tree meadows, near the river, in Arabic, Madrid.

INTRODUCTION

Madrid es la única capital de estado Europea fundada por musulmanes a quienes debemos algo más que el nombre de la ciudad. Su emplazamiento, el diseño urbano e incluso el origen de la Virgen de la Almudena(Almudaynaen árabe) son parte del legado del Madrid andalusí, que durante 200 años fue una ciudad fortaleza clave en la defensa de la marca Media de Al Andalus.

La historia de Madrid está marcada por el establecimiento en ella de la corte real en junio de 1561-939 h. Sin embargo, con anterioridad a esta fecha el área de la actual ciudad ya había sido poblada con el establecimiento de comunidades más o menos relevantes. La aparición de Madrid en la historia data del siglo IX, siglo en que el emir Muhammad I(852-886– 230-264 h.) levanta una fortaleza en el lugar ocupado actualmente por el Palacio Real aunque de época visigoda se conservan restos de un par de ermitas dispersas por el entorno de la ciudad.

La primera noticia histrica de lo que hoy es la ciudad de Madrid data de la época del Emirato omeya de al-Ándalus, concretamente de finales del siglo IX, cuando el emir cordobés Muhammad I levanta una fortaleza en un promontorio junto al río Manzanares, en el lugar donde se alzan hoy la catedral de la Almudena y el arranque de la calle Mayor. La función de esta fortaleza será la vigilancia de los pasos de la sierra de Guadarrama para proteger Toledo, la antigua capital visigoda. También la de Ribat, es decir, punto de reunión e inicio de las campañas contra los reinos cristianos del norte. Por ejemplo, en el año 977-355 h., Almanzor comienza su campaña en Madrid. Cuando el califato de Córdoba se desintegra, Madrid pasa a formar parte del reino taifa de Toledo.

Fortaleza andalusí de Madrid sobre plano actual de la ciudad.

En los alrededores de esta fortificación, se fue creando un pequeño enclave conocido con el nombre de Mayrit(paralos cristianos Magerit), cuyo significado era"tierrarica en agua".

Al rendirse Toledo a Alfonso VI de León y Castilla entre 1083 y 1085-461a 463 h, la ciudad pasa a manos cristianas sin lucha, como otras varias poblaciones del reino castellano.

Tras la conquista castellana la ciudad crece con nuevos habitantes venidos del norte, sin que por ello se expulsase a su población judía y musulmana(sibien algunos de los edificios religiosos musulmanes son requisados; de esta forma, la mezquita mayor se transforma en iglesia bajo la advocacin de Santa Mara).

HIGHLIGHTS:

ATOCHA:

Atocha strain station’sMain train station, connecting with the high velocity AVE to Barcelona, Córdoba, Seville or Malaga, in 2-3 hours only! connecting as well with Madrid’s local nearabout train and city tube networks.

PASEO DEL PRADO: THE ARTS DISTRICT :

Paseo del Prado is madrid’s classical art bank and museum. Counting withmostly private collector’s original paintings until the 21st Century, covering mostly the Reinaissance period of Spanish artists: Velazquez, Goya, Spanish artist work before Picasso is stored here, while Picasso and more modern collections are stored and viewed at the Reina Sofia Modern Art Museum, just around the corner, in front of Atocha train station.

PALACIO CIBELES & FUENTE:

Connecting Calle ALCALÁ with Paseo de RECOLETOS, Cibeles Roundabout gives it's name to the large palace behind it, formerly the Pubilc Post Office central headquarters, nowadays Madrid's Town Hall, or'Ayuntamiento'The town hall is VISITABLE, and in fact there is an accessible roof terrace with coffee facilities, this can be an insightful coffee while you are coming to know the city!

We must also draw our attention to the statue and fountain within the roundabout, as this is perhaps more famous than the palace itself. The statue represents'Cibeles'who is a female Greek mythical figure, drawn in a carriage by two lions. Well'LaCibeles' is very famous due to being adopted by Real Madrid Football Club to celebrate their championship victories. The whole place will be secured, a stage is set up for the players to come and celebrate, by dressing'Cibeles'statue with the Real Madrid'kit'and then they will usually do the traditional Champaigne popping and salute the crowds, and the international media coverage.

Further down Paseo del Prado(streetbelow) the next roundabout, holds a statue of Neptune and this is where the local rival football club celebrates their own victories, by a hawk of'Atletic'!This is the popular Ateltico de Madrid Football Club.

GRAN VÍA & CALLAO:

Gran Vía is a must,see in Madrid, Perhaps the widest street from the original layout of early 19th Centyry city plan. Gran Via represents Madrid as the Spanish metropolis, and main vehicle access to the pedestrian town Centre, Plaza de España, Palacio de Oriente, Opera, Puerta del Sol, Callao. These are the locations you may reach from here.

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA:

Perhaps the most emblematic public square in Madrid, Plaza de España is a timeless feature of the capital of Spain. As you approach the square you will notice the large hispanica trees planted symmetrically around the square, which contains a large monolitic fountain preceded by a wide yet shallow pond. The monolite is decorated with statues imitating some of Spain's most singular works of art, a representation of Queen Isabelle the Catholic to one side, and Miguel de Cervantes, to the opposite. We all know who Isabelle the Catholic was, but do you know Miguel de Cervantes and his work? He is responsible for the most celebrated work of literature in Spanish language,'DonQuijote de la Mancha', and for this reason, we find a large statue of this character, Don Quijote, on horse back and his bachelor, Sancho Panza, riding his donkey. The popular characters have a lot of stories to learn from, each one containing a reflection of the character of Spain from the late 16th Century, immediately after the final Muslim expulsion decree in 1609.

We shall come back to these characters on our way from Toledo to Andalusia, through Castilla La Mancha, southern mainland Spain.

To the north of Plaza de España we can see a building linked closely to the square beneath,'EdificioEspaña' or the'SpainBuilding'. If you walk toward it and take a right you will be walking up Gran Vía, if you took a left you would be starting to walk up Calle Princesa, which would eventually take you to'LaMoncloa', head of government building. However we advise to walk south, to the bottom left corner of the square where we will be able to see and walk over the bridge to the Official Royal Palace of Madrid,'Palaciode Oriente', our next stop.

PLAZA DE ORIENTE. PALACIO REAL

Before you you shuold be able to see a large'whitehouse' type building, this is in fact a neoclassic building and is the Official Royal Palace of Madrid, namely the Oriental Palace, or'Palaciode Oriente'.

The Palace is accessible for visitors and there are guided visits, however we will be focusing on the emplacement and it's history, rather than the palace itself. This was the location where the first Muslim fortress was established during the ruling of the Umayyas in Cordoba. Yes, that is correct, Madrid was founded by Muslim rulers, in the times of Al-Andalus as a strategic defense spot at the north of the Muslim state, while the capital was 400km south, in Cordoba.

Behind the palace you can see the Cathedral of La Almudena, where the monarchs will have their ceremonies such as weddings or Christian celebrations. However what will take you further back into the very foundations of the city is our next stop, where we can find part of the original Muslim walls of the city, just behind the Cathedral, down a slight slope. Don't go too far down as we will be returning up toward the centre next after that.

REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL UMAYYAD WALL OF MADRID:

As we were saying, here we find the only remaining part of the original city wall of Madrid, a Muslim city in it's foundation. Though there is not much to see, we can imagine the X Century fortress where the Royal Palace and Cathedral is nowadays, in the same exact location, and surrounded by similar gardens, in fact the gardens below Palacio de Oriente, are nowadays called Jardines del Moro, the Moor's gardens. You will observe that below the Palace and Plaza de Oriente, there are steep slopes going south, and in fact right by there there is the highest bridge in Madrid, 100 m high. This is no coincidance, as the former Alkasar fort constructed by Muslims of the 10thCentury was placed at an enclave some 70m. above the rest of the city, a strategic defense spot, from which neighbouring towers could be seen up to 40 km away.

Hispano-Muslim towns where similar to those we find today in the north of Africa and the Middle East. They had a centre of the medina, walled city where there was an al-Kasr or government residence and the main mosque. They also had open spaces such as markets, little gardens and graveyards. They where surrounded by further walls and external town areas, the arrabiales.

The medina, city in Arabic, had defensive towers, with optical communication systems and offered it's inhabitants protection in times of war. The cities, both small and large, created stable environments where scholars in the different sciences would gather to share and further develop their studies.

Large cities had sewerage systems for dirty water as well as clean water systems for garden irrigation and public fountains with drinkable water and numerous baths. There were also funduqs or guest houses for the caravans which brought diverse merchandises to the town, coming from the farmlands, other cities or diverse foreign countries.

The main streets of the medina where born at the doors of the city wall and had a stoned finish. The rest where a labyrinth of little alleyways. Due to a lack in construction regulations people would construct their home where and as they thought most suitable, which made streets never be completely straight and the town would soon turn into a genuine labyrinth which locals knew like the back of their hands.

During our time in town, we shall be remembering the Islamic origin of our capital, as we drive(cycleor walk) by some of the cities most famous monuments, the city'arches'or former gateways to the former Musilm fortified city: Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Toledo, Puerta de Alcalá, amongst others, are nowadays a symbol containing the history of our city in stone, though nowadays in styles ranging from neoclassical to rainaissance styles.

Muralla andalusí vista desde el Parque Muhammad I.

Destacan la muralla emiral del siglo IX y la Iglesia de San Nicols de los Servitas La torre- campanario, de estilo mudéjar, aún conserva la estructura original del siglo XII, aunque rematada por un chapitel barroco.

CALLE MAYOR & PLAZA MAYOR

Calle Mayor is probably the most classical street of Madrid. Classical in a modern sense, as it's layout, building fronts and many business fronts are still from the early 19th Century, when cars first started cruising around the capital of Spain. Calle Mayor is also important due to it's location in the city, connecting the Royal Palace, to Plaza del Sol. Along the street in this direction, we will find to the right several places of interest, other than the a captain military headquarter building and a few religious buildings, we find an open square with a picturesque building at the back, and a statue somewhere before it, towards the middle of the square. The statue represents'Quevedo'a famous Spansih Literature figure, from Madrid, and the building is the former Town Hall., which was moved a few years back to'PalacioCibeles' which we will be coming to soon.

PLAZA MAYOR:

Plaza Mayor, is a classical Spanish popular square, surrounded by residential buildings which hang over an under cover side walk which surrounds the whole square, full of different restaurants and coffee terraces.Not comparable to Plaza de San Marcos in Venice, however the Latin character of an urban open public square, holding regular and diverse seasonal markets and events, Plaza Mayor is definitely a reference location in town.

If you are to walk through the square to it's most southern opening, down the steps you can walk down to Calle Toledo, a street which stretches up from Puerta de Toledo, and will allow us to expand a little on our next theme and the concept we've been seeing of Madrid being founded as an Islamic Medina and citadel.

PUERTA DE TOLEDO(BaabToleytula):

Perhaps the most southern gate of Madrid, you may ask, why a gate? Since nowadays it looks more like a symbol of triumph, of commemoration or celebration of the city of Madrid, celebrating it's foundation and standing in time through it's entire history. This is a good place to start grasping Madrid, from it's roots as an Islamic Medina. We are close to the former Alkasar, current Palacio de Oriente, the original Citadel founded in the times of the Umayyad, X Century Al-Andalusia.

PUERTA DEL SOL(BaabShams):

Close to Plaza Mallor, leading on from Calle Mallor, is perhaps the most central square of Madrid, also holding the name of a former gate, the Gate of the Sun, Puerta del Sol. This was the entrance to the most central part of the original Islamic Medina. Nowadays Puerta del Sol is famous locally for being the place where many people yearly celebrate the entry of the New Year, and is transmitted live on all television channels becoming the time with most TV viewers in the year.

Puerta del Sol, is also famous for another, small detail, with a large significance: KM 0 Plate.

KM 0 & THE NATIONAL ROAD SYSTEM:

If you walk towards the center of the square and look up, you will see a central building with a clock at the top of it's facade. Beneath, a large door providing access to the building, usually guarded by two traditional Guardian Civil, with their classical uniform and hat or'tricornio',and below their feet, a few meters ahead you will see a plate formed of colored stone and bronze lettering, this is the KK 0 of the main National road system in Spain. Six main national roads start symbolically at this point, so we can count clockwise from 12o'clock, National 1 to Burgos,(North),N 2 to Barcelona(North-East),N3 to Valencia(East),N4 to Andalusia(South!),N5 to Extremadura, & Portugal, N6 to Galicia, Asturias and the North West.

PUERTA DE ALCALÁ:(BaabAlkaalat):

This emblematic neoclassic monument is nothing else but the memory of the original foundation of the city of Madrid, passed through centuries of witnessing and celebrating the modern capital of Spain as a singular monument referred to in popular'pop'songs since the 70's while still holding wounds from bullets that we can still perceive as patches in the granite, from the civil war in Spain, back in the 30's.

The monument tries to express Spains heritage from it's roots, in a commemorative manner though neoclassical elements in it's style.

PARQUE DEL RETIRO:

Retiro Partk, was made by and for the monarchs, for kings and queens to escape to from their urban routines, to enjoy riding, garden games, or hunting, until mid XVII Century when it was donated by the Monarchs to the city of Madrid, and since then is a public park.

CALLE ALCALÁ:

The longest street in Madrid, is Calle Alcalá, which starts from Puerta del Sol, going North West. The street intersects Paseo del Prado at Cibeles square, and has it’s main highlight at‘Puertade Alcalá’ the doorway to Alcalá. This takes us back the our theme tracing the city back to it’s Islamic roots, the doorway of Alcalá was the original entrance to the city, from the direction of Alcalá la Real, a city some 40 km away from Madrid in that direction. Alcala in Arabic language, means the fortress, or castle. There are many towns and cities in Spain containing this reference in their names, Alcalá this, or Alcalá that, coming from their Arabic and Muslim roots.

CASA ÁRABE:

También es interesante visitar la Casa rabe de Madrid, un consorcio pblico espaol liderado por el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperacin, que opera como centro estratégico en las relaciones de España con el mundo árabe. Un punto de encuentro donde los distintos actores e instituciones, privadas y pblicas, del mbito de la empresa, la educación, el mundo acadmico, poltico y cultural, dialogan, interactan, establecen lneas de cooperacin y emprenden proyectos conjuntos.

C/ Alcalá, 62. 28009 · Madrid +34 91 563 30 66 info@casaarabe.es

PLAZA DE TOROS DE LAS VENTAS:

This is our first example of Mudejar Art. Which will allow us to explore the fusion of the unique cultural heritage found within modern Spain. Mudejar, coming from the Arabic term‘adopted’or‘integrated’is refered to the Spanish art made after the time of Al-Andalus, yet using the islamic inspirations, techniques or designs in the medium. The bull ring was constructed in 1925 by a Spanish Architech, at the same time as Plaza de España was build in a very similar design as the centre piece of Sevilles‘WorldIbero-Latin Exposition’, an event which was intended to launch Spain and other Ibero-Latin countries to the rest of the world, which took place in Seville 1925 and was strongly affected in it’s results by the Wall-street Crash economic crisis of the same year.

MEZQUITA M-30:

This is the main mosque in Madrid, founded and maintained by the Saudi Kingdom for Spanish Muslims, inaugurated in the late 80´s. The complex contains not only a large mosque prayer room with upper quarters for ladies, but also a library, offices, full shower room, toilet and wudu facilities for around 50 people to perform ablution simultaneously, and there is also a coffee & tea bar and restaurant inside the complex. Our usual stop is for a few minutes, to pray and continue with our trips to discover Madrid from it’s Islamic origin until today.

Mezquita de la M-30.

Mezquita y centro cultural islámico C/Salvador de Madariaga, 4

Tel: 913262610

RECOLETOS - PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA:

Paseo de Recoletos is many times confused with Paseo de la Castellana or Paseo del Prado, yet this is no major error as it is essentially the same avenue, as it travels from Atocha through to the North of Madrid it will be called, first Avenida del Prado, then reaching Plaza de Cibeles and through the city centre it is called Paseo de Recoletos and further north after passing Nuevos Ministerios, it is Paseo de la Castellana, reaching the most North point of Madrid at Plaza de Castilla.

NUEVOS MINISTERIOS:

Los Nuevos Ministerios constituyen un complejo gubernamental que alberga las sedes de varios ministerios en el distrito de Chamberí, en la ciudad de Madrid(España).Se encuentra situado en la manzana delimitada por el Paseo de la Castellana, las calles Raimundo Fernández Villaverde y Agustín de Betancourt y la plaza de San Juan de la Cruz.

El proyecto original es obra del arquitecto Secundino Zuazo Ugalde y desde muy pronto contó con el patrocinio del entonces Ministro de Obras Públicas, Indalecio Prieto.1 Su construcción se inició en 1933 y, a pesar de que se vio paralizada durante la Guerra Civil, todo el complejo quedó finalizado en 1942. En la actualidad acoge la sede de los Ministerios de Fomento y de Empleo y Seguridad Social. Todo el conjunto arquitectónico se halla plenamente integrado en el llamado centro AZCA, uno de los centros de negocios y oficinas más importantes de la capital. En las cercanías se halla también la estación de Nuevos Ministerios, un intercambiador múltiple con servicios de Autobús, Metro y Cercanías.

(wikipedia - translate)

SANTIAGO BERNABEU:

El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu es un recinto deportivo propiedad del Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, situado en pleno Paseo de la Castellana, en el distrito de Chamartín de Madrid, España. Se inauguró el 14 de diciembre de 1947 y su aforo actualmente es de 81 044 espectadores.1 El estadio está catalogado por la UEFA con la máxima distinción,«estadioélite».3 4

The official tour of the stadium can be carried out independently at your own pace. The 21€ cost includes a ticket to access the stadium and then there are arrows indicating the way to carry out the tour at your own pace, passing through the different areas and the field itself or the coach seats. The tour naturally concludes at the Real Madrid Official Store, exactly opposite side of the statium to the main entrance where you started the tour from.

PLAZA CASTILLA:

A milestone at the very North of the capital of Spain, named after the mainland kingdom of former Iberia, is Plaza de Castilla.

Cuenta con dos de las estructuras más altas de Madrid, que son su principal atractivo: el par de edificios denominado Puerta de Europa, de más de 100 metros y casi 30 plantas, también conocidos coloquialmente como Torres Kío. Son visibles desde todo Madrid, y su principal particularidad es que son simétricas, estando cada una de ellas inclinadas 15º respecto a la vertical, ambas hacia el mismo lugar. Ocupan las posiciones 10 y 11 de los edificios más altos de Madrid, ya que ambos son de la misma altura, 114 m.

También está la Torre Castilla, de 24 plantas, en el extremo oeste de la plaza(decolor azul y amarillo), y que ocupaba una posición entre los 50 y 80 rascacielos más altos de Madrid en 2006

The Calatrava Obelisc

The Obelisk designed by Santiago Calatrava, was a donation by Caja Madrid to the city of Madrid, to celebrate the bank’s 300 year anniversary. Behind the obelisc we see the‘Doorto Europe’ and further we will find the newly constructed four tallest towers in Madrid, the CTBA towerds. The monument was the first work in Madrid by this engineer and architect of a Valencian origin. It is 92 m. hight and 6 in diameter. Installed in the southern side of the square and seem from‘cuzco’as in the picture it seems to be placed exactly between the two slanting towerds. It’s steel structure has 12 rings installed to turn around giving an impression of creating waves as it turns.

The project was launched in 2004 but due to there being main underground public transportation stations beneath, it was revised and finally concluded in 2009.

M-30, M-40, M-50 RING ROADS

MADRID BARAJAS / ADOLFO SUAREZ, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TAKE THE TUBE INTO TOWN

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO MADRID

EXPRESS ARRIVAL FROM AIRPORT TO HIGH SPEED TRAIN: CORDOBA, SEVILLA,

MALAGA, OR BARCELONA?

De esta época temprana de dominación cristiana datan los cultos a los patrones de Madrid: la Virgen de la Almudena, de la que según la tradición se encontró una imagen en la muralla exterior el 9 de noviembre de 1085-463 h, y San Isidro Labrador, nacido hacia el año 1082 – 460 h. y muerto el 30 de noviembre de 1172 – 550 h., santo patrón de la Villa y gran devoto de la Virgen de la Almudena.

Y aquí nos volvemos a encontrar con un sincretismo religioso nada o poco estudiado pero evidente: la virgen de la Almudena es la imagen titular de la catedral de Madrid que se sitúa sobre la antigua mezquita de la ciudad-fortaleza. Almudena de almudano, es decir del que llama a la oracin. San Isidro labrador no es ms que la castellanizacin de Idris, probablemente algn santn musulmn del lugar.

Al tratarse de una ciudad-fortaleza destinada a controlar la frontera y a proteger la importante ciudad de Toledo, Madrid no conserva muchos restos de poca islmica o mudjar.

Alminar de San Miguel de los Servitas. Siglo XII, de obra mudéjar.

Si bien del edificio original solo se conserva la torre, los restos arqueológicos encontrados y su situación sugieren la posibilidad de que la iglesia se edificó sobre una de las seis mezquitas que había en Mayrit antes de la conquista cristiana en 1083 – 461 h. De ahí que se aluda a la torre como el único minarete que se conserva en la ciudad, aunque no está del todo demostrado. Lo que sí resulta evidente es que fue construida por los alarifes(maestrosy obreros musulmanes) que permanecieron en la ciudad tras la reconquista, bajo las premisas en que se edificaban los alminares.

A finales del siglo XI o principios del XII se construyó la segunda muralla en Madrid, llamada"lamuralla cristiana", en el mismo estilo de la anterior, ya que son los mudéjares los que la edifican. Estos mudéjares habitarán el actual barrio de la latina, anteriormente llamado Morería de Madrid, del que se conserva la puerta de los Moros y una plaza que lleva el nombre del antiguo barrio.

Azulejos indicativos de plazas del antiguo barrio de la morería de Madrid.

Un antiguo hospital da nombre al barrio de moda de la capital, al que cada fin de semana acuden miles de personas para disfrutar de su ambiente y tapeo. Pero La Latina no es el nombre más correcto al que dirigirse cuando se habla del arrabal mudéjar de Madrid conocido como La Morería.

Pasear por La Morería es hacerlo por el barrio en el que primero vivieron los mozárabes(cristianosen territorio árabe) y al que más tarde se trasladaron los mudéjares(musulmanesbajo dominio cristiano) cuando Alfonso VI conquistó Madrid en 1083 – 461 h., quien concedió un amplio autogobierno a los musulmanes, permitiéndoles que mantuvieran vivas sus costumbres y tradiciones.

Agricultores, artesanos o alarifes cruzaron hacia el cerro de las Vistillas para residir en el arrabal mozárabe que los musulmanes transformaron en el barrio moro, el cual fue incorporado por Alfonso VI a la ciudad al levantar una segunda muralla para proteger este arrabal de los ataques. Un arroyo separaba el recinto amurallado árabe de la Morería. Este pequeño riachuelo se corresponde en la actualidad con la calle Segovia, donde se situaban los baños árabes. El nombre de Madrid procede precisamente de este río que los musulmanes bautizaron como Mayra y que derivó en Mayrit, que traducido literalmente al árabe significa“aguaque corre”.

Ampliación de la muralla andalusí Siglo XII, dentro de este nuevo recinto se ubicará el barrio mudéjar, morería o aljama de Madrid.

En la actualidad, el trazado del barrio deja entrever como pudo ser aquel arrabal que estaba articulado en torno a la Plaza del Alamillo, donde se situaba el Tribunal islámico de Justicia, y a las dos mezquitas, en el lugar donde hoy se alzan la iglesia de San Andrés y la iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo-consu magnífica torre mudéjar de claro recuerdo andalusí-.

Iglesia mudéjar de San Pedro el viejo en el barrio de la Moreria.

En la Plaza de los Carros(abajo)yace escondido un viaje de agua musulmán(qanat)del siglo XI que aprovechaba la riqueza del suelo madrileño para sacar el agua que llevaban por estos canales subterráneos a lugares lejanos. Este sistema hidráulico de abastecimiento es una de las más importantes herencias del Madrid islámico, pues se perpetuó hasta la creación del Canal de Isabel II.

Junto a este viaje de agua se encontraron algunos de los casi cien silos y pozos islámicos hallados en excavaciones y que servían para almacenar alimentos hasta que más tarde se usaron como basureros. En estos depósitos siempre aparecían restos de cerámica andalusí, que hoy en día pueden observarse en el Museo de los Orígenes, en este mismo barrio.

Silos de época islámica en el centro de Madrid.

Depart from Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)

Arrive at Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Historical Introduction

The scope and interest of Al-Andalus is immense since Al-Andalus was in fact the first monarchic democracy to be established in Europe, in the IXth Century. As a foundation stone of Europe and the modern world, we should try to come close to Al-Andalus, learn more about it. We might find clues about our world, how to live in it better and avoid falling into the same mistakes.

This is what Al-Andalus Experience is about, for you to get beyond the veils of your daily life and step into the true lands of Al-Andalus through it's generous heritage which can most be witnessed in Cordoba and Granada provinces.

Unfortunately there is a general miss culture which has lead to offering the worldwide public a'historicalpantomime' going as far as to bend history into a series of fables and chronicles which in many cases pay little tribute reality. This is well known to modern Spanish historians and researchers and we know exactly where the mistakes or'blackholes' are in both popular and official account of history. As an organization we are in touch with researchers and historians as well as publishers and editors, it is our intention to rediscover the true history of Al-Andalus and we’re working on several projects in this line. Through our tours we invite you to participate in the memory of Al-Andalus and also help you actively to discover it.

Al-Andalus Experience originally emerged partly due to the lack of a service that goes about solving logistic problems for Muslim travellers in Spain. A great part of our team and collaborators are of Muslim faith and religion, hence we appreciate the needs and interests of Muslim travellers.

It is evident that our world needs to go beyond the veils and prejudice of labels, to hold respect for the diverse nature of humanity, if we are to walk into a peaceful and blessed future.

THE COUCILS OF TOLEDO AND NICEA

The need for finding a unifying criteria in the diverse picture of Christian religion during the early middle ages forced the Church to form regular local Councils. The Councils where frequently gathered in order to adopt the necessary means to regulate constant abuses taken by the cleric and noblemen over the lower classes, as well as to learn about and eradicate'heresies'.The Councils where formed by select bishops and took place in Toledo. From Toledo the issues treated where taken to the supreme Council in Nice for further consensus by the Church in Rome.

It is well known about this period that Iberia, just as the rest of Europe lived a severe'darkage' in which human rights where abused on a regular basis by the Clerics, wealth and work were taxed at will by local Monarchs and epidemics where frequent. It was also a time when Iberia lived a profound religious crisis. Religion was divided within Christian faith itself and further, there was discomfort within the Jewish communities who where submitted to a miserable condition close to slavery.

In this state of affairs it shouldn't surprise anyone that there where XVII Councils in Toledo from 325 to 694-712, reflecting the needs for the Church to adapt and to solve the problems throughout the Peninsula

During the Council celebrated in 589, the division in Christianity was officially solved through the conversion of King Recaredo to Catholicism in 587 and Arianism was condemned as a'heresy'.From here on the documents have a constant mention about Christian'heretics',through which we learn that they where'UnitarianChristians', followers of Ario. This and other descriptions of the Arian doctrine which are issued in the Councils, where otherwise completely wiped out during the later'Inquisition'.

The climate in the VII century didn't get any better. The clergy and the two main Visigoth noble families, that of Wamba and Chindasvinto, where divided into Arian(Unitarian)and Catholic(Trinitarian).An interesting characteristic of the Visigoth kingship is that the crown was not hereditary, but through appointment by council of clerics. The king before last, Vitzia, was of an Arian Christian profession as was his inheritor Aguila. After Vitzia's death, Aguila took the throne but however, shortly after, it was given to Rodrigo who was Catholic. This is thought to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

THE DECADENCE OF THE VISIGOTH KINGDOM AND THE FORMATION OF AL-ANDALUS.

Towards the beginning of the VIII Century, the Visigoth kingdom who's capital was Toledo, was in the midst of a political and social crisis provoked by the impoverishment of economy, frequent droughts, hunger in the lower classes, lack of prestige of the monarchs and how not, a rivalry in the noble class.

As the post of the throne was not hereditary but by appointment, the main noble families rivalled against each other to achieve it. Kings where frequently assassinated by members of the noble class who aspired to take the throne. This struggle ended weakening the Visigoth Kingdom. In this state of affairs, the king before last, Vitzia, tried to make the crown hereditary. As it happened, when he passed away, his young son Aguila was proclaimed king, but part of the noble class refused to accept him and put the charge onto a noble man named Rodrigo, duke of the Betic region, who was Catholic. In spite of his efforts, Rodrigo couldn't avoid a civil war breaking throughout the country. The sons of Vitzia had decided to get back in throne to whatever effect. From here the story becomes unclear and there are many elements of legend in it.

A common mistake is to think Northern Africa as being Berber in the modern understanding of the term, by the 8th Century. At this point Modern Morocco was indeed nothing but an extension of the Visigoth Kingdom, where population had been stirred in excess through increasing desertification of more Southern areas(ModernSahara). In any case, the monotheistic vision of Islam, a newly revealed religion, had already reached these lands along with a wave of cultural and scientific achievements from the more developed cities of Egypt and Damascus. These where Eastern cities which thrived ahead of their time in a cultural revolution, later to become the Islamic Golden Age.

Returning to the political state of affairs, it is at this point when the sons of Vitzia decided to seek help from the nearby Muslims to dethrone Rodrigo. The Archbishop of Seville, Oppas, uncle of Aguila - the dethroned son of Vitzia - asked his governor Count Don Julian of Ceuta to negotiate with the governor of North Africa under the Umayyad Dynasty of the Caliph Al-Walid I of Damascus, Musa Ibn Nusayr.

History tells us that in 711, Don Julian, Count of Ceuta, helped the Islamized Berber Tariq, the Lieutenant Colonel of Musa across the strait from Morocco to Spain. The sons of Vitzia, archbishop Oppas and other Gothic noblemen summed to a small group of Muslim troops which where commanded by Tariq. Since then the name given to the rock is Gibraltar, or JablTarr, Arabic for'Mountainof Tarr(iq)'.

It is not known how many Muslims went into Spain, some say only 400, others 7000, others 12.000 troops. The prior more likely and whoever they were, they were only relatively new Muslims since the new Prophet, Muhammad, had revealed the religion of Islam only 50 years before.

Another element that historians give importance to is the discomfort in the Jewish communities, many of which lived in exile around Tingitania, north of current Morocco. Many refugees from Iberia, both Jewish and Visigoth lived in Ceuta and many are likely to have joined the famous''Arabinvador'' troops into the Iberian Peninsula.

What conclusively explains such a speedy penetration into the peninsula, as well as the later permanence of Muslims in Spain, is the fact that the Unitarian Visigoths where much closer to eastern cultural revolution and the new Muslim faith, than to the alternative Roman Catholic Church. Hence they would give support to the allied army as they moved swiftly through the Peninsula from city to city.

The Muslims made a pact with noble Visigoths helping them to enter the peninsula, respecting their property, status and privileges. In just 3 years a mixed army of some 3 to 12 thousand men took power over the peninsula up to Zaragoza, and in one more year the entire peninsula was under Muslim government. Many towns opened their doors to the Muslims offering no resistance and in fact welcoming them as their rescuers, others surrendered through advantageous agreements.

An example of such agreements is that of a Visigoth duke, Theodomiro from Murcia, who could continue to govern in his territory – which was to be newly named Tudmir – after his agreement with the Muslims.

Musa, a charismatic figure himself, freshly invigorated by the cultural revolution in the east and moreover by the spirit of a newly revealed religion, would enter into Iberia in 712 C.E. further establishing an independent state from Rome. This was celebrated by the casting of new coins in Toledo stating the Quranic verses''Thereis no god but The God''(lailaha illa Allah),''Hewas not borne nor does he beget''(lamyalid wa lam yulad). These first Quranic verses casted onto Iberian coins where to express the one common thing between the three subsequent cultures living in al-Andalus. One same God worshipped by three cultures: Christian(mostlyUnitarian), Muslim and Jew. Al-Andalus was born.

It is paradoxical that the latest of the Councils of Toledo, number XVIII from 712, has been removed from the safely preserved Church archives and nothing is know of it. There is obvious speculation over what this Council document contained since this was the year when coins where cast in Toledo and the new independent state of al-Andalus was formed.

A famous battle in Covadonga in Asturias, was to later symbolize the resistance of a Catholic-Christian north Spain by the hands of the Asturian King Pelayo. Much in the same manner the battle of Tours in Poitiers 732 E.C, is generally remembered as: when Europe was saved from the Islamic advance, by merit of French Charles Martel. Though there remain many historical paradoxes, some say the battle was simply one of many battles between northern and southern Gales, each accusing the other of being'heretic';in a time when Spain and France were effectively'onesame land'.

From these independent Kingdoms in the north of Spain and in a parallel manner to the Crusades in the rest of Europe, the Catholic Kingdoms of Spain initiated the so called'Reconquista':A series of battles spread over 800 years whereby the Kingdoms of Aragon, Navarra, Castilla and Leon supported by the Church of Rome, steadily gained land over the'arabized'Spanish Muslim state.

On the other hand, within the newly named al-Andalus, in spite of Islam becoming the official religion of the new state, no one was forced to convert. On the contrary, Christians and Jews where allowed to practise their religions and even Muslims shared churches with the old Christians before building their own mosques. A minority of Catholics also remained, mostly religious clerics and monks.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, ARIANS AND TRINITARIANS

Because of the size and geography of the Iberian Peninsula, there has always been many different'pockets'of population. These pockets where extended around the country in a very decentralized and disperse manner. As to religion, the Visigoths where Arian – followers of Ario – a form of Christianity which had extended throughout the Roman Empire during the 4th century and which negated trinity, considering it a form of polytheism. Though there weren't confrontations with the so called'orthodoxChristians', the majority of Hispano-Roman population was Catholic, defenders of the idea of three personalities of one same God.

The global picture of Europe until then had been very divided, religious views within Christianity not being an exception. In the peninsula, thousands of slaves, many of whom were Germanic, joined with their kin, who had become the real masters of Spain. In this equation we must not forget about the large population of Jews which spread out through Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. The further the aristocratic power changed from milder Arianism to Catholicism, which was completing itself by the 8th century, times got worse for the Jews.

The Catholics where an aristocratic minority of only around 12% including clerics who held much corruption and confusion at this time, weak knowledge and lack of a consensus or any religious criteria. Moreover, they where opposed by a mass of what they considered as'heretic'Christian movements throughout the entire peninsula. Within the Visigoths there weren't only Arian Christians but also Priscilian, following another old Unitarian Christian, Priscilio, with similar views to Ario.

Some More Specific Details

The biggest part of Spanish history is closely related to the history of Islam, especially after the Islamic history left eight centuries of an indelible mark in the Iberian Peninsula. This Islamic presence had different levels: after the rapid entry (711) and the establishment of the first group of Muslims, Cordoba becomes the most powerful city, the new province of a Muslim empire: al-Andalus. In the hands of the Umayyad dynasty, almost three centuries, the power gets more centred, the territory is administered, the economy develops and the society as a whole blossoms as a consequence of the Caliphate in Cordoba(929).The sharp fall from the Caliphate happens during the reyes taifas period that was facilitating the advancements of the Christians.

The capture of Toledo by the Castile (1085) would announce the beginning of the Reconquista byconfronting first one of the Berber empires, Almoravids, and eventually the Almohads. The defeat of the Muslims in 1212“LasNavas of Tolosa” battle made an end to their superiority in the peninsula. Nevertheless the last political Muslim entity remained for another three centuries: the Nasruddin kingdom in Granada.

The capitulation of Granada in 1492 saw its last Muslims living consequently under Christian domination, to be named“Moriscos”thereafter, before an expulsion by Royal Decree in 1609.

Most local Muslims here in Spain, nowadays believe that the invisible seeds sown by the Muslim saints during these centuries allowed the present communities to reap the fruits in our contemporary multicultural societies.

Private Package Standards

Our ‘Private Tour’ offer has recently been re-designed towards an independent travel experience, so that now you may choose from a wider range of options including: general planning & advice, accommodation at the selected standard, tickets to the main highlight monuments listed in the itinerary; we provide options towards: meals, city and monument tours, transport and travel assistant guides from our organisation. Please read on, below you will find the bookings & info form.

Accommodation choices and standard included are given and then confirmed for each individual offer, from hostels or tourist apartments, to 5 star hotels, you may have these revised during the booking process to match your budget or any alternative city order to this Travel Plan proposal, we will append all of your booking vouchers here conveniently after confirmation.

Our standard price is offered per person sharing one double room at the standard selected with one person from your group; triple rooms receive a small discount yet cannot always be guaranteed. Single room upgrades are offered as a supplement upon the double room rate, according to the accommodation standard and type.

Meal bookings are included at our favorite selection of Local Halal Restaurants, you will be able to choose your favorite establishment throughout your time in town. If you don’t want any meals to be booked, please tell us during the booking process.

The monuments included are listed in each package. We usually include the main Islamic Heritage Sites at each city, plus a series of museums or expositions of a particular interest to the historical narration and understanding of each town.

Our Guides are NOT included in our private tours unless chosen specifically within the booking confirmation process.

We have two distinct types of guide. You may like to hire a Local Travel Assisting Guide/Local Muslim Guide from our crew to assist you along with the tour. Official UNESCO World Heritage Guide for a detailed Monument Tour. Again these choices will be option provided throughout the booking process after you request information on any of our tours or holiday escape packages.

Transport & guidance options are offered during the booking process, to make sure you book the adequate service to your own desired standard.

The minimum group size in our private and independent packages start from 1 traveler and over, but will be specified in the ‘Price Terms’ of each offer according to the services included.

As a licensed travel agency we can also offer competitive flight bookings, with ease at best rates.We do not include travel insurance by default, but can also offer it as an optional extra.