MEDITERRANEAN CLASSICAL ACADEMY art
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MEDITERRANEAN CLASSICAL ACADEMY The Mediterranean Classical Academy (MCA) is an unusual and exceptional study and travel academy that carves out a unique place for itself in the burgeoning new field of academic and cultural travel in the Arab and Muslim world. Founder-Director Dr. Samir Mahmoud, a Cambridge graduate and Renaissance Man, eloquently leads the tours with a curious combination of erudition, passion, and intellectual pleasure. His lectures spring from a profound interest in the cross cultural exchanges that took place across the Mediterranean between Arab/Islamic Civilization and Europe and a fervent passion for the creative process at work in their arts and architecture. In addition, visiting MCA lecturers will be invited to give lectures and workshops in their specialized fields, including art workshops in Italy. Combining on-site lectures and off-site discussion workshops, and eschewing the artificial boundaries between disciplines, Samir weaves history, philosophy, art and architecture, and spirituality with novel ideas and keen observations, often inspired by the students themselves. The lectures are stimulating, mind teasing, and often border on the inspirational with still some room to indulge yourself in the many intriguing cultural pockets, panoramic vistas or delicious regional delights. Samir loves to talk, loves to listen, and loves to engage.
Embrace yourself as it all comes to life. Piazzas become theatrical backdrops for historical dramatizations, the worn steps of temples and churches become sites for adoration and contemplation, the luminous corridors of museums and art galleries for silent meditation, archeological sites for reenacting ancient events, but most of all the very streets and pavements of cities, hilltop towns, and villages, with their dramatic vistas, come to life. The very stones speak and we listen!
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Our Story
The Mediterranean Classical Academy (MCA) is inspired by the famous European Grand Tour. The Grand Tour was the trip of mainly British aristocrats who, between the 17th and 19th centuries, travelled to Italy to see the heritage of the classical world (art, sculpture, architecture) and complete their classical education. My story first began as I embarked on my own Grand Tour of Italy funded by the ‘International Workshop Scholarship’ awarded by the University of New South Wales, Sydney. The trip also included France and Switzerland where the idea for the Mediterranean Classical Academy (MCA) first came to birth. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there could be a contemporary Grand Tour for people like myself,’ I often repeated. Torn between my ‘Western’ and ‘Arab/Islamic’ heritage I often struggled to reconcile both sides of my identity. In the next few years I would revisit Italy, France, and Switzerland several times a year. The traditional Grand Tour itinerary did not necessarily speak to my entire existential, cultural, intellectual and spiritual needs. If the Grand Tourist visited Italy to reclaim the classical heritage of antiquity, ‘what would a Grand Tour for a contemporary young Arab or Muslim look like?’ ‘What would I be reclaiming?’ I decided that no tour of Europe would be complete without visiting Andalucía in the south of Spain. An important part of Europe’s history overlaps with a definitive moment in Arab/Islamic history and it is in Spain that this rich encounter flourishes.
There is a direct line from the Renaissance in Cordoba to the Renaissance in Florence a few centuries later and allot was exchanged between all sides of the Mediterranean in-between. It is that story that I wish to follow in this Grand Tour. The Grand Tour made me realize that both sides of my identity need not be considered two sides at all. The adventure, the learning, the introspection, the reflection, and the reading all changed my life! It is this experience and much more that I wish to share with you.
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Your Host
My name is Samir Mahmoud and I’ll be your host, guide, and tutor during these culturally exhilarating tours. My role is to immerse you in an exceptional traveling experience that will leave you hungry for more. On the menu you will find quite the enticing mix of appetizers including art history, architecture history, aesthetics, philosophy, literature, and poetry, including religion and spirituality.
As your host and tutor I will be providing a general curriculum and education. I insist on small groups to deliver a more sociable personal and intimate experience. Small groups foster a healthier, more personal, and much more exciting educational experience. I have travelled with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other, to: Italy, France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Syria, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. Nothing excites me more than a bit of Italian history and architecture, urbanism, classical and medieval philosophy, and comparative religion. Throw in some Renaissance philosophy, history, aesthetics, and anthropology, Islamic art, architecture, aesthetics and I’m at home.
“My role is to immerse you in an exceptional traveling experience that will leave you hungry for more.” Here is a little more for those interested in the formality of credentials: I grew up in Australia (Sydney) and Lebanon and have lived in England (Cambridge & Oxford) for almost seven years. I have a BA in Anthropology (with a focus on art & the imagination) and MA in Urban Design & History of Architecture (the urban morphology of Medieval and Renaissance Italian towns) from the University of New South Wales, Australia. I also have an MPhil in Comparative Philosophy & Aesthetics (with a focus on art, aesthetics, & the imagination) and a PhD in Philosophical Aesthetics (medieval Islamic theories of beauty and art compared with Western theories) from the University of Cambridge, UK. I also have a broad interest in Classical philosophy, Islamic philosophy and mysticism, Renaissance philosophy & art, Jungian psychology, and history. I also have extensive inter-faith dialogue and Scriptural Reasoning experience. I am currently Post-Doctoral Fellow at the MIT-Harvard Agha-Khan Program for Research into Islamic Art and Architecture.
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Itinerary
June 25th, 2012 - July 11th, 2012 The aim of the MCA tour is to introduce art, architecture, religious studies, or humanities students and anyone interested in the arts and humanities to the rich heritage of the Mediterranean classical traditions. In this tour we shall explore the site of two great moments in Mediterranean history: the Renaissance of Cordoba and the Renaissance of Florence; the former under the aegis of an Umayyad Caliphate and the latter under the aegis of the Medicis. The Spain part of our trip is centered around the city of Cordoba, the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate and the center of the cultural, intellectual, and religious phenomenon known as Convivencia. During this period, roughly from the 8th-12th centuries, a relative period of co-existence among the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities prevailed and artistic, intellectual, and cultural exchanges and communal symbiosis flourished in AndalucĂa in general and Cordoba in particular. Cordoba was the then intellectual capital of Europe with the largest number of universities, schools, libraries, books, and manuscripts. It was also a period of remarkable technical achievements in the sciences, agriculture, engineering, philosophy, art, and architecture. This is why I have called it the Renaissance of Cordoba. The Italy part of the trip is centered on the birthplace of the Renaissance of Florence. More than any other city, Florence was the seat of Renaissance Humanism and the center for the flourishing of the classical arts. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Florence witnessed a revival of classical antiquity in literature, philosophy, architecture and the arts that decisively changed Europe and the West forever. It was also a period of a remarkable influx into Florence of ideas and goods from various parts of the Mediterranean. In more than one way, it is to Cordoba and Florence that we owe the origins of the modern world. Please keep reading on the next few pages for your uniquely tailored itinerary.
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.�
- martin buber -
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Monday June 25th: Madrid-Cordoba We arrive in Madrid airport and catch the train down to Cordoba arriving in the afternoon. We will check in to the hotel and have dinner together, after which we introduce each other and I will then introduce the trip itinerary and a brief lecture on Andalucía will follow.
Wednesday June 27th: Granada
Overnight: Cordoba Tuesday June 26th: Cordoba
After breakfast, we shall head out to the Alhambra Palace Complex, which includes the Alcazaba, the Nasirid Palaces, Palace of Charles V, and the Generalife Gardens. The mesmerizing geometric patterns, dazzling muqarnas ceilings, flowing arabesques, and swirling lines of calligraphy are the stuff of legend and have to be seen to be believed. The magical aura of the Alhambra Palace has inspired countless generations of romantics, poets, and artists.
We visit the Mezquita, the Mosque-cum-Cathedral of Cordoba. The mosque was begun in the 8th century by Abd al-Rahman I and subsequently enlarged as the Muslim population increased. The Mezquita is one of the most exquisite examples of Islamic architecture. 1,200 years later, it still dazzles its visitors with its forest of columns, horseshoe arches, and magical mihrab dome. The mosque was later converted into a Cathedral with a chapel and choir inserted into the center of the mezquita but retained most of its Moorish charm. The juxtaposition of mosque and church is a common site across the Mediterranean bearing witness to both peaceful co-existence and violent takeover. We shall explore these themes here in Cordoba. We shall also walk in the footsteps of some of the great intellectuals and poets of this city: Ibn Hazm, Ibn Rushd, Maimonides, and Ibn Arabi. Afterwards we will explore the old parts of Cordoba on foot including the Jewish quarter, a museum, and the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos – the castle of the Christian Monarchs. In the late afternoon we will travel out of the city to see the ruins of Medina al-Zahra, a once marvelous city built by Abd alRahman III in the 10th century but later ransacked and destroyed leaving only memories of its past glory. Many verses of poetry have been penned in memory of this city, which we shall read together. We shall then head off to Granada and have a chance to stroll through the city at night taking in its sites and sounds while enjoying dinner together.
We shall head back down to the Albaicín on foot visiting the newly built mosque complex on the hill opposite the Alhambra Palace enjoying a panoramic view of the palace as it glows red at sunset and then head off to watch a flamenco performance. In the early evening, we shall enjoy a lovely recital of Andalucían music by a local group of artists and then head off to a traditional Andalucían dinner. Overnight: Granada Thursday June 28th: Granada-Carmona-Seville We leave Granada early heading towards Seville via the hilltop town of Carmona. Originally a Roman settlement, Carmona was an important Moorish town with stunning city walls, castle and gateway. After arriving in Seville in the late afternoon we will relax and then have dinner together followed by a brief talk on the period after the fall of Granada known as the Mudejar. Overnight: Seville
Overnight: Granada
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Friday June 29th: Seville In the morning we tour the Royal Palaces, beautifully restored buildings built in the Almohad style during the 12th century and walk through the gardens. In the afternoon we will visit the Giralda, the third largest cathedral in the world and the site of Columbus’ tomb followed by the Casa de la Pilatos, a wonderful 16th century home with fine examples of Nasrid, Gothic, Mudejar and Renaissance architecture. It contains beautiful mosaics, artesonado ceilings, and Mudejar plasterwork as well as paintings, murals and sculptures.
Machiavelli, and the notorious preacher Savanarola. We will explore the religious, cultural, political, philosophical, and artistic shifts and changes introduced during this dynamic period, ideas that simply changed everything. Overnight: Florence Monday July 2nd: Siena-San Gimignano
Overnight: Seville Saturday June 30th: Seville-Pisa-Florence We fly out of Seville on our way to Florence, Italy. We arrive in Pisa airport on our way to Florence during which we make a brief stopover to see the leaning tower of Pisa. In Florence, we check in to our hotels, have lunch, relax in the afternoon, and then stroll through the city to see the Duomo, the Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio and over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge during which I will introduce the Renaissance and Italy. Then we will have dinner. Florence will be our base for the next few days. Overnight: Florence
Sunday July 1st: Florence After breakfast we will head straight for the famous Uffizi Gallery, the home of the greatest art collection in the world including the works of Botticelli, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. It will take us several hours to get through the collection. We will then see the ‘real’ statue of David by Michelangelo in the Galleria dell’ Accademia. After lunch we will go to the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. We will then go to Piazza Michelangelo at sunset to get a spectacular panoramic view of Florence shimmering in the setting sunlight. Florence is crucial to our story because it is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance under the aegis and patronage of the Medici family. Numerous artists, poets, and philosophers flourished in this magical city from the 15th-16th centuries, including Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi, Alberti, Bramante, Marsilio Ficino,
Two Tuscan hilltop towns will the highlight of today: Siena and San Gimignano. We will start off to Siena on the picturesque Tuscan country road after breakfast reaching it in the late morning just in time for a quick lunch in its famous Piazza Del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. Siena is Italy’s most complete Gothic medieval town known for its famous yellow brown color due to the terra di Sienna from which we get the name of the color Sienna. If we are lucky enough we will witness a spectacular bareback horse race known as the Sienese Palio whereby 10 jockeys race on behalf of 10 of Siena’s contrade (districts). We will then visit the Siena Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest medieval cathedrals, decoding some of the mysterious messages on its floor mosaics before heading off to San Gimignano, the picturesque hilltop town known for its famous medieval towers. We will then head back to Florence for a relaxing free evening, dinner, and stroll. Overnight: Florence Tuesday July 3rd: Florence-Perugia-Assisi-Montanaro
We will head off after breakfast on a road trip to the Le Marche region and the Sibillini Mountains and visiting on our way Perugia and Assisi. The former is a lively walled medieval hill town with numerous
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historic buildings, bustling piazzas, and shops, with several still visible Etruscan remains; the latter, nestled in Umbria’s rolling hills, is best known for being the birthplace of St. Francis, Italy›s patron saint. The medieval town›s must-sees sights include the Basilica of San Francesco, a grandiose sacred site built in 1230. It contains Giotto›s 28 frescoes of St. Francis’ life, the Romanesque Assisi Cathedral and the Baroque Church of St. Mary of the Angels. There is also the nearby Eremo della Carceri, a 13thcentury monastery.
The tour of the caves takes approximately 1.5 hours and visitors can experience the thrill of a hidden and beautiful world, made of breath-taking scenery, rich in extraordinary concretions, where the silence is broken only by the dripping water. In the evening we will relax to a sumptuous dinner and conversation. Overnight: Montanaro Friday July 6th: Montanaro Day 2
Overnight: Montanaro Wednesday July 4th: Montanaro
Montanaro is a retreat for artists, thinkers, and nature lovers. Ideally located in the picturesque Sibbilini Mountains, Montanaro will be our base for three days during which we will learn to about sacred geometry, the alchemy of paint, the art of icon making, and much more. It will be a time for us to reflect on, discuss, and internalize everything we have seen and learned so far. Thursday July 5th: Montanaro Day 1
In the morning there will be a workshop on Icon painting. You will learn how to paint and gold gild a small Icon of St Nicholas. This short workshop offers a rare glimpse into the time honored techniques and treasured secrets practiced by the traditional Christian Icon painters. Participants will use the paint made on their first day, including traditional earth and mineral pigments made of semi-precious stones and rare minerals, such as lapis, malachite, cinnabar and azurite. Finest quality gesso boards will crafted specifically for this course. Participants will be taken through the techniques of gold leaf gilding and icon painting, completing their very own small icon of the local St Nicholas by the end of the course. After lunch there will be a guided tour of Loreto. The Holy House of Loreto is one of the most revered Marian shrines in the world. Since medieval times, it has been believed to be the very home in which the Virgin Mary lived, was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and where the immaculate conception took place. A large basilica has been built around the shrine, and the sacred site attracts as many as 4 million pilgrims and visitors each year. We will go out to a restaurant for dinner in Loreto before we head back out to Montanaro.
In the morning there will be a workshop on the: alchemy of art; methods and materials of the great masters. You will learn how to make your own paints from natural materials and will use them in your work over the next 2 days. After lunch we will visit the Frassasi caves. One of the largest cave complexes in the world, full of awe inspiring stalagmites standing several meters high and crystallized lakes.
Overnight: Montanaro Saturday July 7th: Montanaro Day 3 After breakfast, there will be a drive and guided walk in the Sibillini Mountains, particularly the picturesque hill top town of Norcia. There will be a nature walking tour, picnic, and relaxation in the wild as we gather our thoughts and reflect on the past few days. This tour will enable participants
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to experience some of the finest charms and most dramatic grandeur of the Sibillini Nature reserve in Le Marche Italy. This tour includes parts of the “sentiero dei Mietitori” medieval path used for centuries in the process of harvesting corn, the Gole of Infernaccio, otherwise known as Hell’s Gorge, famous for the mysterious and spectacular sights of the junction between the highest wall of the M. Sibilla and M. Priora. To recover from Hell’s Gorge participants will walk to Forca di Presta, the famed cultured fields of Castelluccio which have inspired countless photographers and are at their most beautiful in early summer. In the afternoon, there will be a geometry workshop. Geometry is the universal language of ‹visual mathematics› that all cultures and spiritual traditions are subject to but each culture and religion articulates this language in its own unique way. So although there is only the one language of absolute truth, it expresses itself though several different dialects. Participants will learn to draw Christian and Islamic patterns with a compass and ruler and then add color to them. This workshop will also introduce participants to arabesque, which consists of surface decoration based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils, plain lines and flowers. Participants will learn how to construct complex decorative patterns through the use of simple geometry, gaining their inspiration from their surrounding natural environment. By the end of the workshop, the participants will have designed, drawn, painted their very own beautiful geometric and arabesque pattern. In the evening there will be a dinner and relaxing chat about the past three days at Montanaro.
Fountain before we reach the romantic Spanish Steps at sunset for coffee at Caffe Greco, a café frequented by writers and musicians such as Keats, Goethe, Lord Byron, Liszt, and Wagner. We will then backtrack through the narrow alleyways and cobbled streets of Rome to Piazza Navona for dinner. Overnight: Rome Monday July 9th: Rome After breakfast we shall head out to see classical Rome. We will start with the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and finally the Palatine. If we have time, in the afternoon we will visit the sumptuous Villa d’Este with its 100 fountains just outside of Rome. In the evening we will stroll across the Tevere river to see Castel Sant’ Angelo viewed from the Ponte Sant’ Angelo. At night the castle is beautifully illuminated, as are most of the ancient and medieval streets of Rome. A stroll through the streets at night, sampling the food and enjoying the street performances, is a typical Roman experience and is a must. Overnight: Rome Tuesday July 10th: Vatican
Overnight: Montanaro Sunday July 8th: Montanaro-Rome
On our last day in Rome, we will visit the Vatican starting with the Piazza San Pietro, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and then a guided tour of the Vatican museums including Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famous frescoed ceiling and the Raphael rooms, which contains his famous work The School of Athens, a mural depicting Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Ibn Rushd among others. We will also have a long discussion and visiting lecture on inter-faith dialogue. In the evening we will wrap up the tour with comments, discussions, and perhaps even a classical concert. After breakfast, we will head straight into Rome by train arriving at our hotel by mid-day. We will have lunch together and then head out to see the Piazza Navona, the Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which contains works by Michelangelo, Bernini, and Filippino Lippi. We will then head to the famous Trevi
Overnight: Rome Wednesday July11th: Rome-Doha Today we say our farewells and head towards Rome’s Fiumicino - Leonardo da Vinci Airport on our way home.
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Additional Information ACCOMMODATION Hotels (3-4 stars) for this tour have been carefully selected for their charm, historic ambiance, or central location. Although covering quite a bit of ground, the itinerary has been designed to allow multiple night stays in many of the hotels. BACKGROUND TALKS To get the most out of a visit to a town, site or building, two things are usually required: historical and practical information about the place you are visiting and time to see it properly. An important component of the tour is a series of historical, artistic, and cultural background talks given by your tour leader and complemented by local guides. WEATHER Spain and Italy should be warm to hot during June-July and expect some rain, particularly in the mountains. The Sibillini Mountains may be cool, particularly in the evening but there is no need to pack heavy clothes. In inland southern Spain, days in late Spring and early Summer are long, dry and sunny with temperatures climbing to the mid and sometimes high thirties Celsius by day with evenings remaining warm. In the higher regions such as Granada near the Sierra Nevada, nights will be cooler. There may still be the odd few light falls of rain before the dry of high summer. In and around Rome the weather will be hot and humid.
Costs
$US 7,000 per person (based on twin-share accommodation) Subject to exchange rate fluctuations and the number of people on the tour, the price may vary. You will be notified of any changes immediately. The costs are based on a minimum of 12 tour participants. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. The full balance is due 60 days before departure. What is included in the land tour cost?
All breakfasts & all dinners
Accommodation in selected 3-4 star hotels
Flight from Seville to Pisa and trains from Madrid to Cordoba and from Montanaro to Rome
While on tour, ground transportation in air conditioned coach
Excursions including admission to all sites, museums and galleries mentioned in the itinerary
Services of tour leader from arrival in Madrid (June 25th) to departure from Rome (July 11th) and local guides on tours
Group tips to drivers and guide
Porterage (one piece per person) for group arrivals and departures in and out of hotels What is not included in the cost?
Travel insurance (mandatory)
FITNESS
Airline and departure taxes
To fully enjoy the cities and towns, galleries, museums and countryside on this tour will long walks on foot. Older towns and cities are often located on hilltops so this often involves stairs and slopes, as well as cobbled and uneven surfaces. A comfortable pair of shoes or boots with a good grip is essential. You should be fit enough to stroll for periods of up to 90 minutes with only short breaks.
Visa costs (if required)
Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary, or listed as optional
Tips for individual services
Personal expenses, such as laundry, phone, Internet cafes, fax bills and other incidentals
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“Embrace yourself as it all comes to life!”
MEDITERRANEAN CLASSICAL ACADEMY art
knowled ge
passion
Samir Mahmoud Jesus College, Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BL, United Kingdom samir.mahmoud.cantab@gmail.com | +44 (0) 7896288887