In The Lands Of The Enchanted Moorish Maiden: Islamic Art in Portugal uncovers five inspired centuries of Islamic civilisation that shaped the people of the former Gharb al-Andalus. From Coimbra to the furthest reaches of the Algarve there are palaces, Christianised mosques, fortifications and urban centres, all of which bear witness to the splendour of a glorious past. This artistic recollection is the expression of a very delicate symbiosis that determined the particularities of vernacular architecture and still permeates the cultural identity of Portugal. Ten itineraries invite you to discover 76 museums, monuments and sites in Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra, Evora, Mertola, Faro and Sesimbra (among others).

An Architecture of Light / Islamic Art in Algeria is the most recent title to be published in our series Islamic Art in the Mediterranean. This illustrated book is a thorough guide to Algeria’s Islamic artistic heritage, from the earliest trading routes in the Sahara to the cosmopolitan port of Algiers. It can be enjoyed as an armchair guide to Algeria’s museum collections and architecture, which are described in exquisite detail, or to inform travellers as they follow one or more of five different itineraries. The guide begins with an overview of the expansive cultural influence of Islam around the Mediterranean, beginning in the seventh century, and its transformation of art and architecture. The development of Islamic art through successive dynasties, from Damascus to Lisbon, is summarised through an examination of religious and secular architecture. A separate historical introduction revisits centuries of local religious and political strife in the region we now call Algeria, and their enduring legacies. Competing sects, rulers, tribes, militias, and profiteers all left their marks on diverse populations and indigenous cultures. The itineraries include excursions to mosques, museums, fortresses, tombs, and palaces in cities and rural areas. Regional customs, crafts and musical traditions are described in essays by local authors. On almost every page, vivid photographs of minarets, arches, carvings, tiles, jewellery, and landscapes accompany the text. Diagrams and building plans show both great and humble structures of daily life in cities and villages. From a sumptuous palace in Algiers to a hand-built dam in the highlands, from an adobe house in a remote valley to a whitewashed minaret in the plains, this guide takes the reader to places that document diverse cultural movements and their enduring monuments. Each site is described and illustrated, and side trips and scenic detours are suggested. Museum With No Frontiers is pleased to present this wide-ranging work. We hope that people around the world might use it to discover the Central Maghreb’s rich past. 192 colour illustrations | 17 black and white illustrations | 26 plans of monuments | 250 pages

This new MWNF Travel Book was conceived not long before the war started. All texts refer to the pre-war situation and are our expression of hope that Syria, a land that witnessed the evolution of civilisation since the beginnings of human history, may soon become a place of peace and the driving force behind a new and peaceful beginning for the entire region. Bilad al-Sham testifies to a thorough and strategic programme of urban reconstruction and reunification during the 12th and 13th centuries. Amidst a period of fragmentation, visionary leadership came with the Atabeg Nur al-Din Zangi. He revived Syria’s cities as safe havens to restore order. His most agile Kurdish general, Salah al-Din (Saladin), assumed power after he died and unified Egypt and Sham into one force capable of re-conquering Jerusalem from the Crusaders. The Ayyubid Empire flourished and continued the policy of patronage. Though short-lived, this era held long-lasting resonance for the region. Its recognisable architectural aesthetic – austere, yet robust and perfected ‒ survived until modern times. The Ayyubid Era: Art and Architecture in Medieval Syria describes eight thematic Itineraries including, among others, the cities of Damascus, Bosra, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Raqqa.

MUDÉJAR ART: Islamic Aesthetics in Christian Art reveals the fascinating exuberance of a unique cultural and artistic symbiosis that characterises Christian Spain after the Reconquista. The Mudéjars were Muslims allowed to stay in the reconquered territories. Their artists and artisans strongly influenced the culture and art of the new Christian kingdoms. In Aragon, Castille, Extremadura and Andalucía sumptuously decorated brick churches, monasteries and palaces illustrate perfectly the creative endurance of Islamic forms in Christian art between the 11th and 16th centuries in Spain. Thirteen Itineraries invite you to discover 124 museums, monuments and sites in Madrid, Guadalajara, Saragossa, Tordesillas, Toledo, Guadalupe and Seville (among others). With Index of Locations.

This fascinating new series will present 12 Exhibition Trails in 11 countries, which follow the chronology of the spread of Islamic art in that area. The Museum With No Frontiers programme is based on the novel idea of organising exhibitions without transporting the works of art, instead allowing the visitor to discover the artefacts, architecture and museums in their original environment and within their historical and cultural context. This concept makes it possible for the Islamic art academic or enthusiast to experience art as a living illustration of social history. Each Exhibition Trail is divided into a number of itineraries that provide detailed information on the history and significance of each structure or work and offer practical information on guided tours, transportation and cultural activities. The beautifully illustrated descriptions of the archaeological sites, artworks and architecture are written by experts in the field who live in the specified area itself. Visit the virtual gallery www.mwnf.org for further information. The exhibition is devoted to significant monuments from the reign of the Umayyad caliphs (660-750 AD) in an area that stretched from Amman to Mo