The Calligraphy and Ornamentation School’s Journey to Al-Andalus
(Granada – Córdoba – Seville)
5 to 11 April 2025
This educational journey was organised to three of the most prominent cities of Andalusian heritage in Spain—Granada, Córdoba, and Seville—within the framework of the Calligraphy and Ornamentation School’s programme. The aim was to deepen the artistic and visual understanding of Islamic arts inspired by Andalusian architecture and ornamentation. The trip served as a practical extension of the lessons taught during the first and second term workshops, through visits to sites whose designs and calligraphy had been studied by participants, such as Andalusi Thuluth script, Andalusi Kufic, and the motifs of the Alhambra Palace.
The journey aimed to bridge academic learning with field experience, allowing for direct engagement with living architectural and historical environments. It also sought to expand the students’ artistic and cultural horizons and enhance their aesthetic awareness. Additionally, it helped strengthen social and emotional bonds among participants and encouraged a sense of institutional belonging to the school community
The trip included various visits, such as to the Alhambra Palace, Generalife Gardens, and Albayzín quarter in Granada, along with attending a live Flamenco performance. In Córdoba, participants visited the Great Mosque and the historic quarters, while in Seville, the itinerary included the Cathedral and the Alcázar Palace, one of the most prominent preserved Islamic landmarks in the city.
The journey yielded numerous artistic, academic, and cultural benefits. Artistically, it allowed for firsthand exploration of a variety of Islamic decorative and calligraphic styles, while also enhancing participants’ skills in documentation and artistic observation. Culturally, it raised awareness of the importance of preserving Islamic heritage and demonstrated how Islamic architecture contributed to shaping Andalusia’s urban character. Academically, the journey enabled students to apply theoretical concepts in a real-world setting and encouraged them to view Islamic art as a research field and a source of contemporary creative inspiration.
The overall impression of the journey was highly positive and inspiring. The experience demonstrated the impact of educational travel on consolidating knowledge and deepening artistic understanding. It is therefore recommended to organise such trips twice a year, with enhanced academic content and a follow-up art exhibition to showcase student work produced after the journey. It is also advised to pursue partnerships with artistic and cultural institutions in host countries that focus on Islamic arts and to document these journeys as references for developing art and Arabic calligraphy education curricula. معرض فني يعرض الأعمال التي أنتجها الطلاب بعد الرحلة. كما نوصي بالسعي إلى بناء شراكات مع مؤسسات فنية وثقافية تهتم بالفنون الإسلامية في الدول المضيفة، وتوثيق هذه الرحلات لتكون مرجعًا في تطوير مناهج تعليم الفنون والخط العربي
