Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $8895 |
|---|
| Length: | 12 days |
|---|
| Activity: | Cultural Adventures, Small Ship Cruising |
|---|
| Difficulty: |
|
|---|
The ultimate way to explore Italy—on foot! Discover jewel-like towns of the southern Tuscan countryside, from remarkable Siena to the enchanting villages of the sun-splashed Maremma, with its hidden coves and vineyards producing “super-Tuscan” wines.
The Golden Age of the Moors
Cultures and Faiths of Morocco and Spain aboard the Callisto
This itinerary is no longer available
We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.At a time when all of Europe was shrouded in the Dark Ages, a glorious civilization—the Moors—sprang up in southern Spain and northern Africa. When the Moorish kings ruled, it was a rare moment in history when the three great monotheistic faiths worked side by side to build a sophisticated society that excelled in science, art, and architecture. As we journey from Morocco to Spain aboard the 34-guest Callisto, we discover the legacy of the Moors from the astonishing medieval medina of Fez to two of Spain’s most splendid cities: gracious Seville, site of the Moors’ royal Alcazar, and Granada, home of the incomparable Alhambra Palace. Our guest lecturers, including cultural anthropologist John Shoup, PhD, bring the world of the Moors to life for us.
Highlights
- Magical Marrakesh and the great medieval medina of Fez
- The artists’ haven of Essaouira, Rabat’s charming Oudaya Kasbah
- Romantic Sevilla, home of flamenco and bullfighting
- Granada’s Alhambra Palace, a breathtaking royal world preserved
Details
- 12-day trip begins in Marrakesh, Morocco, and ends in Malaga, Spain
- 7 nights luxury vessel, 3 nights hotels
- All meals aboard ship, breakfasts and 2 dinners at hotels
- Cultural exploration and walking tours
This itinerary is no longer available
We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
US / Marrakesh, Morocco
Intricately tiled walls in intense colors of blue and paprika, interior courtyards with bubbling fountains, exquisite domed ceilings—the Moors’ architectural heritage is a superb one. We explore the treasures of Marrakesh, including the Bahia Palace, and people-watch in the Djemaa el-Fna, the celebrated central square.
Days 4-6
Taroudant / Embark / Essaouiria / Casablanca
In medieval Taroudant, a center of trade in the early days of the Moorish Empire, we stroll the well-preserved city walls and make a foray into the souks. Boarding the Callisto in Agadir, we call at Essaouira, a charming seaside town, to walk the red ramparts that attest to its hybrid Moorish and European influences. Voyaging to Casablanca, we tour the impressive new Hassan II mosque, the second largest in the world.
Days 7-9
Rabat / Fez
We roam the narrow passages of Rabat’s mysterious Oudaya Kasbah, concealed behind formidable Almohad walls, and visit the splendid mausoleum of Mohammed V. With a full overnight in magical Fez, we savor the scents, sights, and sounds of a perfectly preserved medieval city enclosed within its original walls. Pottery, leather tanning, and tile-making are still important arts here.
Days 10-12
Sevilla, Spain / Granada / Malaga
From Cadiz, we drive to magnificent Sevilla, a city scented with orange blossoms, where our explorations include the great Alcazar, palace of the Spanish kings for nearly seven centuries. At Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain, we devote a day to the majestic Alhambra Palace, once the retreat of the caliphs. We disembark at Malaga and depart on Day 12.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure