Images from Spain and Morocco

The journey begins in Madrid, Spain’s pulsating capital. The tour will continue to Andalusia, where students will explore the most exciting cities in Southern Spain:

Seville –Seville’s magnificent architecture reflects its legacy of tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The world’s largest gothic cathedral sits beside a medieval Islamic palace. An ancient Jewish village gives way to one of Spain’s largest bullfighting rings. Orange trees line the cobblestone streets, and warm sunshine bathes the city’s’ pleasant plazas. Seville is simply unforgettable.

Granada – The Alhambra, an impossibly sensuous Islamic fortress, sits on a hill atop gorgeous Granada. Next to it lies the Albaicín, a whitewashed village which overlooks the modern city. Home to some of Spain’s best flamenco, Granada is a sensual mix of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Gitano culture. As the Spanish saying goes, “Si no has visto Granada, no has visto nada.”

Cordoba – Capital of the Muslim kingdom, Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendor, Cordoba is among the most pleasant towns in Spain. At the heart of the city lies la Mezquita, the medieval mosque where Muslims, Christians and Jews once worshiped side-by-side. Saunter through the rolling, whitewashed streets. Sip fresh-squeezed orange juice in a romantic café. This is Andalusia at its best.

The tour then continues to Morocco, where students will visit the most invigorating cities in all of North Africa:

Fes – A walled city, Fes is the world’s largest medieval Islamic medina. The spiritual capital of Morocco, it is also host to the annual Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. A breathtaking mix of modernity and tradition, faith and tolerance, Fes is a beacon of hope for those who wish to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

Marrakech – Nestled in the heart of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is the Morocco of popular imagination. Snake charmers sip sweet mint tea beneath the scorching African sun. African spices perfume the air in the Grand Bazaar, a dizzying array of cafés, shops, and restaurants. At the same time, Marrakech is also home to some of Africa’s most sacred mosques and handsome architecture.

Tangier – Situated at the tip of the Strait of Gibraltar, only 8 miles from the coast of Spain, Tangier lies at the crossroads of civilizations – Europe and Africa, the Western and Muslim worlds, intersect here.

Cathedral, Córdoba

Andalusia's Legacy of Interfaith Dialogue

From 711-1492, while most of Medieval Europe suffered the backwardness and barbarity of the Dark Ages, Muslim-ruled Andalusia flourished. Spanning Southern Spain, and at its height extending throughout the Iberian Peninsula, Andalusia was the most advanced societies in the known world.

Unlike most historical kingdoms, which developed at the expense of cultural or religious minorities, Al-Andalus prospered because of the inclusion of the three cultures of Andalusia: Christians, Jews & Muslims. Though ruled by Muslim leaders, the kingdom granted unprecedented religious freedom and protection to the followers of all three faiths.

Working together, the three cultures built a society unparalleled in Medieval Europe. Magnificent houses of worship were built, in which Muslims, Christians & Jews worshiped side-by-side. Scholars translated ancient Western texts, including the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers, into modern languages. Mathematicians coined the name, "algebra," and developed many core algebraic tenets. Many of the world's most popular musical instruments, including the guitar and bass drum, were invented in or brought to Europe through Andalusia. Extraordinary advances were achieved in medicine, agriculture, astronomy and psychology.

Andalusia demonstrated that followers of diverse faiths can co-exist in harmony. Equally important, it showed that the human family flourishes when diversity is celebrated.

In a world of increasing violence, hatred and hopelessness, Andalusia proves that peace is possible.

Generalife Gardens, Alhambra

Interfaith Dialogue in Morocco

Among the most tolerant nations in the Arab world, Morocco is host to the modern world's most powerful act of intercultural dialogue: The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.

Held annually for the last 14 years, the Fes Festival promotes a celebration of all cultures and religious traditions. By day, intellectuals, philosophers and religious leaders from around the world participate in a series of public dialogues, roundtable discussions, and exchanges. By night, the planet's most talented musicians perform sacred music from every major faith tradition.

The festival is appropriately held in Fes, the spritual and cultural capital of Morocco.

The Fes Festival, and the myriad other acts of dialogue occurring throughout the Western and Muslim worlds, prove that peace is possible.