XXVI Conference on Islamic Culture of Almonaster la Real: complete programme (9-12 October)

From 9 to 12 October, Almonaster la Real celebrates its XXVI Conference on Islamic Culture. Four days with souk, exhibitions, conferences, theatre, music and workshops, with the tenth-century mosque as the heart of the town and the conference.

From the Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla we participated in several activities: the exhibition and workshop of Andalusian astrolabes with Ibrahim Aybek, the dhikr evening on Saturday with dinner, the guided tour “The rural mosque and water” with Khalid Nieto and the conference of Luqman Nieto on Sunday.

Program at a glance

Friday 9

• 18:00 — Opening of the souk and the exhibitions.
• 19:00 — Inauguration of the exhibition “Astrolabios andalusíes”, by Ibrahim Aybek. Blas Infante Hall.
• 20:00 — Official opening of the conference and inaugural concert “Sueños de azahar”, with tea ceremony and pastry tasting. Mosque.
• 20:00 — Circus and dance show “The night of the 1,000 stories”. Plaza de Toros.
• 22:30 — Concert by La Banda Morisca. Plaza del Llano.

Saturday 10

• 9:30-13:00 — International symposium “Female figures in the Arab and Islamic world” and presentation of the book Almunias. El Concejil Conference Hall.
• 12:00 — Conference-workshop “The Andalusian Islamic astrolabe”, with Ibrahim Aybek. Blas Infante Hall.
• 13:30 — Andalusian gastronomy workshop: varieties of couscous, with Said Mefetah. Plaza de Abastos.
• 13:30 — Concert by Alturaz Al-Andalusí. Plaza del Llano.
• 17:00 — Talk on biodiversity with birds of prey in Muslim times. Plaza de Toros.
• 18:00 — Guided tour of the mosque “The Language of Stones”. Meeting point: Plaza de la Constitución.
• 19:55 — Call to prayer from the minaret.
• 8:00 p.m. — “Night of Remembrance”: evening prayer, dhikr gathering, and dinner for attendees. Mosque.
• 10:30 p.m. — Concert by Alcanatif. Plaza del Llano.

Sunday 11

• 11:00 — Guided tour “The rural mosque and water”, with Khalid Nieto. Mosque.
• 11:30 — Lecture “Following the primordial path in the modern world”, with Luqman Nieto. Mosque.
• 13:00 — Concert by Dunia Henia. Plaza del Llano.
• 13:30 — Andalusian gastronomy workshop: milk cake, with Said Mefetah. Plaza de Abastos.

Monday 12

• 11:30 — Theater “Entanglement in the market” through the streets of the souk.
• 12:00 — Dramatized visit to the mosque. Meeting point: Plaza de la Constitución.
• 13:30 — Closing of the conference.

Saturday and Sunday there will be free workshops for children in the area of La Morería (next to the church of San Martín): turbans, henna, storytelling and dance. The exhibition “Astrolabios andalusíes” can be visited in the Blas Infante Hall in the morning and afternoon during the weekend.

Practical information

• Information points: M. Vázquez Vargas Exhibition Hall (Tourist Office) and City Hall point.
• Photo contest: send your photos of the conference (max. 5, in HD) to concursosaytoalmonasterlareal@gmail.com. Organized by Punto Vuela Almonaster.
• In the brochure you will also find bars, restaurants and telephone numbers of interest.

Full schedule:

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