An Archaeological Study Tour

Morocco
September 24 – October 8, 2010
Led by Professor Ronald Messier

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.

Friday, Saturday, September 24 & 25: RABAT: Departure from New York in the evening via Royal Air Maroc. Our arrival into Casablanca is Saturday morning. After stopping briefly at the Mosque of Hassan II, we transfer to the Hotel Sofitel Rabat Jardin Royal. 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

Sunday, September 26: 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

Monday, September 27: MEKMES: En route to Volubilis we visit 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 and the Zaki Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, Wednesday, September 28 & 29: 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 narrow streets 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 Wednesday 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

Thursday, September 30: 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

Friday, October 1: ERFOUD: A short drive through oases and palm groves watered by the Ziz River brings us to Sijilmassa, an important trading center until the Middle Ages. Professor Messier will give us an in-depth tour of the site. We then return to Erfoud.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, October 2: OUARZAZATE: Our drive to Quarzazate 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

Sunday, October 3: 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

Monday, October 4: 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 the Hotel Le Meridien N’Fis. This afternoon we will visit Marrakech’s sumptuous souks and Jamaa el Fena Square, infamous for its riotous storytellers, jugglers, musicians and snake charmers.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, Wednesday, October 5 & 6: MARRAKECH: Today we will tour the city’s historic sites, prime examples of Moorish-Andalusian architecture. Touring will include the great Mosque of Koutoubia, the tomb of the Saadian kings, Ben Youssef Madrassa, Al-Badi Palace, Dar Si Said Museum, the Almoravid Qubbah and the Majorelle Gardens and Museum. Wednesday, our full day 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 Almohad dynasty made its first unsuccessful attack on Marrakech in 1130. This marvelous building has recently been restored to its 12th-century splendor. After lunch in a lovely French auberge, we will continue to Professor Messier’s current excavation at Aghmat, where he has excavated the monumental hammam (public bath) and discovered the grand mosque.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch daily

Thursday, October 7: 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

Friday, October 8: Our Royal Air Maroc flight departs early, connecting in Casablanca for New York.