Building Bridges - Spain 2024
Seeptember 19th - September 26th, 2024
Travel with us to southern Spain for the next “Building Bridges” trip! We’ll explore the architecture and landscape of Andalusía, also known as al-Andalus, and dive deeply into the unique seven-century history of religious coexistence between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. We’ll learn of the rich culture in medieval Spain in which poetry, fiction, architecture, philosophy, and visual arts flourished in an atmosphere of tolerance.
Our guides for this eight-day trip will be Mejdi Tours, specialists in “dual narrative” tour experiences who guided the 2023 Building Bridges trip to Morocco. We’ll start in Seville on Thursday, September 19th, travel to Toledo, Cordoba, ending in Granada on September 26th. While learning about medieval Spain, we’ll meet with current Muslim and Jewish religious and political leaders and hold discussions with grassroots activists.
Highlights:
- Visit the Jewish Quarter and central mosques of old town Seville
- Visit the Alhambra in Granada
- Meet members of local interfaith communities
- See El Greco’s masterpiece, “The Burialof Count Yorga,” at the Santo Tome Church in Toledo
- In Seville, meet the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation
- Tour the Medina Azzahra in Cordoba
- Visit Sacromonte and Albayzi
Cost: $2,750 – 3,050* per person
*Final price determined based on number of participants (20 minimum). Prices are per person and based on double occupancy.
Group Leaders: Amira Quraishi, Lisa Breslau, Tahija Vikalo, and Roberta Elliott
For more information, please contact [email protected]
Included:
• 7 nights accommodation at 4-5* accommodations
• 7 days private touring with two MEJDI guides (Elad & Aziz)
• Local guides per city tour/site, as relevant
• 7 days private bus transportation per itinerary
• 7 breakfasts [B], 1 lunch [L] and 5 dinners [D] per itinerary
• All entrances, sites, activities, and speaker honoraria per itinerary
• Meeting rooms space for reflection/group conversation as needed
• Dedicated pre-trip customer service and on-ground support
- Group airport transfeers for departure
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival to Seville: Begin your journey with a warm welcome in Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Enjoy an optional tour activity in Seville, followed by a group welcome dinner and orientation.
Day 2 - Jerez de la Frontera & Cadiz: Explore the charming old town of Jerez de la Frontera and visit a local mosque for Yom il Juma observance. Continue to Cadiz, known for its ancient Roman ruins and vibrant atmosphere. Conclude the day with Kabbalat Shabbat services and dinner with the Jewish community.
Day 3 - Seville continued: Delve deeper into the history of Seville with a walking tour including The Real Alcazares and Plaza de España. Meet the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation and enjoy a traditional Flamenco show in the evening.
Day 4 - Cordoba: Visit the remarkable Medina Azzahra and explore the Old Jewish Quarters of Cordoba. Enjoy a private group dinner at Casa Mazal and engage in facilitated group conversation.
Day 5 - Cordoba: Tour the Mezquita (Great Mosque of Cordoba) and the Old Synagogue. Visit Pedro Abad’s Basharat Mosque and enjoy free time to explore Cordoba.
Day 6 - Granada: Discover the Muslim community in Granada and visit the Foundation Mosque of Granada. Explore the iconic Alhambra complex and Sacromonte and Albayzin neighborhoods.
Day 7 - Granada: Take a walking tour of Granada’s Old Town and enjoy free time for lunch and exploration. Gather for final reflections and a festive group dinner in the evening.
Day 8 - Departure: Conclude your journey with group transfers to the airports in Granada or Malaga, or continue on an optional extension to Madrid and Toledo.