PARADISE ON EARTH: THE MOORISH ARCHITECTURE OF ANDALUSIA

First in Sevilla, then in Granada... Last week, our students had a taste of the Golden Age of Arabic and Islamic culture in Spain: al-Andalus, a time when Judaism, Christianity and Islam coexisted in the Iberian Peninsula. This coexistance of the three religions is a precious lesson worth of being learned by all human beings, especially in our ever-growing global world, which our students could experience in the guided tours of the two most incredible Moorish palaces in Spain: the Alcázar in Seville, and the Alhambra in Granada. We entered through the doors of the walled fortresses, walked around their exquisite gardens, enjoyed the rumor of the ever-present water coming out of a myriad fountains and flowing into pools, beheld the colorful tiles, intricate geometrical patterns and impossible arabesques of plaster, stone and wood that form the architecture of the jewels of the Andalusian legacy. Our students learned from the stories told by CIEE guides, enjoyed the feast of the senses throughout the tour, and took a million photographs! All in all: a unique experience.