An Archaeological Study Tour
Morocco
October 14 – 28, 2012
15 DAYS
Led by Professor Ronald Messier, Middle Tennessee State University

Morocco is a land of contrasts, where rolling fertile plains disappear into the beauty of the empty Sahara and the endless Atlantic coastline confronts the rugged snow-capped Atlas Mountains. As we journey through the great Roman and Islamic cities and the remote kasbahs and ksour, we will study Morocco’s 6,000 years of archaeology, art and architecture. We will benefit from the rich cultural heritage and fascinating traditions forged from the heritage of the Berbers, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, French and Spanish, all of whom have called this California-sized country home. The tour emphasizes medieval Islamic Morocco and the Imperial Cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech, from which the Moroccans ruled an area that stretched from Spain to Timbuktu. We will also enjoy many other aspects of this enchanting country, including modern mosques, desert dunes, awe-inspiring canyons, beautiful handicrafts displayed in sumptuous bazaars and everywhere, superb Moroccan cuisine.Morocco is a land of contrasts, where rolling fertile plains disappear into the beauty of the empty Sahara and the endless Atlantic coastline confronts the rugged snow-capped Atlas Mountains. As we journey through the great Roman and Islamic cities and the remote kasbahs and ksour, we will study Morocco’s 6,000 years of archaeology, art and architecture. We will benefit from the rich cultural heritage and fascinating traditions forged from the heritage of the Berbers, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, French and Spanish, all of whom have called this California-sized country home. The tour emphasizes medieval Islamic Morocco and the Imperial Cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech, from which the Moroccans ruled an area that stretched from Spain to Timbuktu. We will also enjoy many other aspects of this enchanting country, including modern mosques, desert dunes, awe-inspiring canyons, beautiful handicrafts displayed in sumptuous bazaars and everywhere, superb Moroccan cuisine.

Sunday, Monday, October 14 & 15: RABAT: Departure from New York in the evening via Royal Air Maroc. Our arrival into Casablanca is Monday morning. After stopping briefly at the Mosque of Hassan II, we transfer to the Hotel Tour Hassan. Touring will begin in the afternoon with a visit to the Archaeological Museum and a walking tour in the Old City. This evening we will meet with Professor Messier for an orientation lecture and dinner.
Meals: Dinner

Tuesday, October 16: RABAT: Today we will visit the city’s important Islamic monuments, including the walls and splendid gateway of Oudaias Kasbah, built in the reign of Yacoub el Mansour (1185-99), the Royal Palace (Mechouar), the Mohammed V Mausoleum, Hassan’s Tower (originally the minaret of a large mosque) and the Chellah necropolis. We will spend the afternoon at Sale visiting the Madrassa of Abu el Hassan.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, October 17: MEKNES: Our first visit of the day will be Moulay Idriss, perched on top of a great massif. This little holy city is venerated as the burial place of the founder of Islam in Morocco and is the fifth holiest Muslim city. After visiting the shrine, we continue to the Roman site of Volubilis*. Dating from 25 BCE, this royal residence and capital of Mauritania Tingitana is one of Morocco’s most ancient cities. The city prospered under the Romans, eventually reaching 15,000 inhabitants. However, by the time Moulay Idriss I arrived, the Romans had withdrawn and the city was eventually abandoned. After completing our visit, a short drive brings us to Meknes where we will spend the night at the Zaki Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Thursday, Friday, October 18 & 19: FEZ: Our touring of the imperial city of Meknes* will include Bab el Mansour Gate and El Hedim Square, the gateway of Berrima. Lastly, we visit the 19th-century palace and museum, Dar Jamai, and continue to Fez, the most ancient and picturesque of the imperial cities on the north-south caravan route, and an intellectual, political and cultural center. We will explore the medieval medina*, with its narrowstreets and tiled fountains at every corner, the Attarine Madrassa, renowned for its delicate decoration and fine tiles, the recently restored 18th-century Nejjarine Funduk, Dar Batha Museum and Karaouine University, as well as the souks of this charming city. Our touring continues Friday morning with the ramparts and monuments situated outside the medina. The afternoon will be at leisure to explore the medina and bazaars on our own. The famed Palais Jamai Hotel is located at the entrance to the medina.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch daily & 1 dinner

Saturday, October 20: ERFOUD: An early departure takes us through the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping at the mountain resort of Ifrane and a Berber village, Azrou. We continue through these beautifully forested mountains and Zad Pass to the mining town of Midelt, where we will have lunch. Our drive this afternoon continues via the Ziz River Valley and several strikingly unusual fortified villages to Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara. We will spend the night at the Hotel Xaluca Maadid, arriving in time for a beautiful desert sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sunday, October 21: ERFOUD: A short drive through oases and palm groves watered by the Ziz River brings us to Sijilmasa. Sacked several times by the Almoravids and Almohads it remained an important trading center until the Middle Ages. Professor Messier will give us an in-depth tour of the site where he directed excavations for six seasons. We then return to Erfoud.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Monday, October 22: OUARZAZATE: Our drive to Ouarzazate takes us through the spectacular Todra Gorge, which has been compared to the Grand Canyon. Following the Dades River, we continue along the Kasbah Trail, the landscape dotted with ksour (fortified villages), protected by their red or yellow walls, and the villages of the Draoua people, to the lovely Berbere Palace Hotel in Ouarzazate.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, October 23: OUARZAZATE: Today’s excursion brings us to Ait Benhaddou*, considered by many to be the most beautiful village in the region. Ait Benhaddou is a fortified ksour built around several decorated kasbahs. It is perched on a steep mountain slope and has been partially rebuilt by UNESCO. We will have an opportunity to explore the village and visit a family in their traditional home and stop for tea at Tiffeltout, a Glaoui kasbah, before returning to Ouarzazate. There will be time to explore the village before dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Wednesday, October 24: MARRAKECH: Our drive today is through the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, which, at an altitude of 2,260 meters, provides a sensational visual experience. We will arrive in Marrakech in time for lunch at our deluxe hotel, Sofitel Marrakech. This afternoon we will visit Marrakech’s sumptuous souks and Jamaa el Fna Square, infamous for its riotous storytellers, jugglers, musicians and snake charmers.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, October 25: MARRAKECH: Today we will tour the city’s historic medina*, prime examples of Moorish-Andalusian architecture. Touring will include the great Mosque of Koutoubia, constructed in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. The 221 foot minaret is the oldest of the Almohad’s three great minarets, Tour Hassan and the Giralda in Sevilla being the two. We will also visit the tomb of the Saâdian kings, Ben Youssef Madrassa, an exquisite example of the Saâdian dynasty’s craftmanship, Al-Badi Palace, Dar Si Said Museum, the Almoravid Qubbah and the Majorelle Garden. This lovely botanical garden, created by the French artist, Jacques Majorelle, is noted for its vibrant colors. We will also visit Majorelle’s former studio, now the Museum of Islamic Arts.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Friday, October 26: MARRAKECH: Our excursion will take us along the winding mountain roads of the breathtakingly beautiful High Atlas to Tin-Mal. We will visit the massive fortified mosque from which the Almoravid dynasty made its first unsuccessful attack on Marrakech in 1130. This marvelous building has recently been restored to its 12th-century splendor. After lunch, we will continue to Professor Messier’s current excavation at Aghmat where his excavations have revealed the monumental hammam (public bath) and the grand mosque.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, October 27: MARRAKECH: After a full day of leisure to wander in the souks or relax at the pool, we will gather for our farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Sunday, October 28: Our Royal Air Maroc flight departs early, connecting in Casablanca for New York.

 * DESIGNATED AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES