An Islamic Medieval Megacity

Discover a medieval Islamic  megacity in al-Andalus Spain where power, wealth, and cultural innovation attracted poets, scholars, artisans, and diplomats from across the world.

With no equal in Europe for centuries, the archaeology of Madinat al-Zahra reveals its monumental architecture,  sophisticated urban planning, and the splendor of the western Umayyad caliphate.

 FREE ADMISSION

Sun, Feb 16, 2026

3pm

Prof. Dr. Rafael Blanco-Guzmán is a graduate in Art History and holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Córdoba. Since 2017, he has been a professor in the Art History Department at the same university and currently serves as the coordinator of the Art History degree program. Over the past two decades, he has authored numerous scientific papers and presented various conferences in diverse national and international forums, spanning from Morocco to the United Kingdom, with a special focus on Medieval Islamic urbanism and architecture. In the last ten years, he has organized scientific congresses of national and international scope, such as "Grandes capitales del mundo medieval: pasado y presente" or "Paisajes del poder. Córdoba y las fincas omeyas (ss. VIII-XI)," co-directed with Julio Navarro (CSIC). Moreover, he has undertaken research stays at renowned national and international academic institutions, including Université Paris-IV Sorbonne, Escuela de Estudios Árabes (CSIC, Granada), Newcastle University, and The University of Edinburgh. Additionally, he has actively participated in and led archaeological interventions and research projects centered on Córdoba, often spanning from the Roman period to the medieval era, collaborating with national and local institutions. Between 2018 and 2021, he directed the archaeological study of the Umayyad minaret of San Juan de los Caballeros (Córdoba).

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