Their farming methods and irrigation system, which were established due to living in the deserts of North Africa, were able to help Spain’s agriculture flouris… Islamic Spain was a multi-cultural mix of Muslims, Christians and Jews. Wonderful winery visits including lunch with winemakers and a wonderful introduction to this warm, friendly culture. We were able to see many parts of this beautiful... read moreWe had a very enjoyable trip to Portugal. He is a Renaissance man with a great knowledge of food, wine and culture. But how did it get there? Like most learning experiences I feel like I’ve retained a fraction of what I learned about the wines and cuisine or Portugal. One was at a family winery tasting ports out of barrels and the other was in Madeira tasting through all of the grape varietals used in vintage bottles going way way back in time. A week of friendship, learning and interacting all in an environment that was stimulating and stress free. Answer ... in Spain, at the end of centuries, the mating of the two direct descendants of the Asian kitharah: the Latin guitar and the Moorish guitar, which certainly were different and distinct, because of the successive changes that were introduced in them during their long and separate journeys to the peninsula (Spain). Fully 3,500,000 Moors, or Moriscos, as their descendants were called, left Spain between 1492 and 1610. Yes. we are a regular group of experienced upscale travelers. Everyday was full of fun adventures and all organized by Catavino. (photo by Contando Estrelas). Echoing the comments of the previous reviews below, my wife and I experienced one memorable experience topped each day by the next memorable experience. They preserved this knowledge and, through their burning desire for scholarship and advancement, greatly improved upon what was then known, across multifarious spectrums. tell him what you want and it will be even better. Eventually, the Moors were expelled from Spain. Unlike any tour!! You must get to know Catavino. View Images. The Anglo Spanish War of Jenkins’ Ear, a curious matter! Has exerted a huge influence on Islamic spiritual thought, (Noms de plume: Alexander Peters, Elena Suarez, Alberto Diaz), Pingback: WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US? They show you a true picture of what goes on, busting myths about the wine and port industry to show you the real side of Douro. Fantastic tour of the Portugal wine country organized and conducted by the Catavino team. Looking to enjoy a great excursion through some of the world's most beautiful vineyards? Ryan was a superb guide and our visits included intimate winery visits, lunch with the winemaker and a wonderful walking food tour in Porto. Though olives were first introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by the far-reach of the Phoenicians, the Islamic civilizations used their advanced irrigation techniques to propagate this quintessential crop to its current day magnitude. We were treated like esteemed guests everywhere we went and even treated like family is more like it! Because the Moors were important and contributed greatly, ironically, to the development of Christian civilisation in Western Europe. Lucy and her Catavino team have now set me up with two completely different trips in two years, both of which were perfectly executed. we have been many exotic places and serious hikes. Ryan and Gabriella must have called in all of their personal favors because we met and drank wine with many winemakers, a wine shop owner and tasted '72 port which Oscar Quevedo's grandfather had made. The Spanish occupation by the Moors began in 711 AD when an African army, under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula ‘Andalus’ (Spain under the Visigoths). The tour was organized down to the most specific details permitting us an experience unencumbered with worry or stress. The most recent one was quite specialized and required a good... read moreLucy and her Catavino team have now set me up with two completely different trips in two years, both of which were perfectly executed. Aside from cooking amazing food, we were part of the entire process, from picking out the fresh ingredients in the market to cooking the meal, and then getting to enjoy the cooked meal with the chefs out on the balcony. In every region we were treated to tours and excursions that were "off the beaten path" that we never would have found on our own. Ryan and his teams services were more than worth every penny we spent. In fact, apart from a few scintillating buildings, such as the Alhambra and the Cordoba Mezquita, it would be easy to imagine that, during their 780 years presence, the Moors in Spain contributed nothing of consequence to the country. The Spanish occupation by the Moors began in 711 AD when an African army, under their leader Tariq ibn-Ziyad, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula ‘Andalus’ (Spain under the Visigoths). We'll be back!! They arrived in 827. who did a complete tour through one of his vineyards and educated us on the different types of grapes the Douro has to offer and how the wine in this winery is made. They assist with hotels, transportation, tours. Ryan was a superb guide and our visits included intimate... We had a wonderful multi-day tour of northern Portugal with Ryan at Catavino. Thank you for introducing her to Portugal in such a wonderful manner. The cooking class was incredible! This event began in 718 and ended in 1492. Ryan and Gabriella must have called in all of... We were part of the 2016 Harvest Tour and had the experience of a lifetime! Our tour with Ryan as our guide to the Douro Valley was spectacular. Up until then, Europeans had only prepared very sweet confitures, often with honey. Ask for William he was amazing as our guide. Thanks!! Although Ryan has a huge database of facts in his brain, he is also a treasure house of stories. Ryan and his team of angels of Catavino created an absolute exceptional itinerary for our group of 10 from Minnesota. It was an overall wonderful experience. - Culture Spain – for all things Spanish, Clubbing Together, Brothels in Spain and Spanish Culture, Corruption in Spain, Marbella, the Godfather, a face lift and Mr Clean, Hooked, drugs in Spain and the gateway to hell, On the rocks, divorce in Spain and domestic violence, Politics in Spain, the Transition to democracy, Sex in Spain and the confessions of a call girl, The big issue, how immigration in Spain is changing the face of the countrypain, The history of Spain, Spain’s unification and elevation to world power, El Cid – Spanish National Hero and Extraordinary Soldier, WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US? For our trip to Portugal my wife and I wanted insider... Ryan and his team are very humble. Lived in Toledo We were part of the 2016 Harvest Tour and had the experience of a lifetime! They assist with hotels, transportation, tours. Catavino... We booked a food tour in Porto through Catalina. Spanish Culture | Devanio, Just wanted to say thank you so much for this well written and highly informative article. You may also find them interesting? So glad we decided to work with them and didn't try to save... My wife and I worked with Catavino Tours to plan a special trip for our 10 year anniversary and couldn't be happier! Our guide, Ryan Opaz, was extremely knowledgable and brought great enthusiasm to the experience. I felt very good about having her in Catavino's hands. That is wonderously informative and detailed – thanks for that! Founder of Umayyad dynasty that ruled Iberia for 300 years Our guide, Ryan Opaz, was extremely knowledgable and brought great enthusiasm... read moreWhat an amazing trip with a fantastic group of people. We were able to see many parts of this beautiful country! Our day started out rainy in Barcelona, and we face a two-hundred-mile drive to Valencia. we have been many exotic places and serious hikes. He is extremely knowledgeable and helped us learn to appreciate Port. Pingback: CULTURE SPAIN: EL CID (SPANISH NATIONAL HERO AND EXTRAORDINARY SOLDIER). Directed by Timothy Copestake. The cooking class was incredible! We visited a winery where the vintner gave us the most authentic and informative tour of the vineyards and wine cellar we have had. A European scholar sympathetic to the Spaniards remembered the conquest in this way: a. This was an ongoing visual and sensory experience from start to finish with several “pinch yourself” moments along the way. read less - 2/06/2020, Lucy and her Catavino team have now set me up with two completely different trips in two years, both of which were perfectly executed. My client is a single woman traveling alone and she had the time of her life! Return to main History of Spain page Back to the Time of the Visigoths - 408 to 711. But isn’t that all of Europe now? The Moors, the Islamic warriors who had invaded Spain in around 700 AD and who in their heyday ruled over two thirds of Spain. We had the chance to meet one very young producer (Oscar Quevedo: thanks!) And if you haven’t tried the delicious and sinful “polvorones” that are eaten at Christmas throughout Spain, these pork lard and sweet almond cookies should be at the top of your list. Asked by Wiki User. Founded the religion of Islam read less - 11/10/2019, My wife and I worked with Catavino Tours to plan a special trip for our 10 year anniversary and couldn't be happier! All aspects of the tour were planned to provide an exceptional experience for our group of eleven friends. Throughout the entire day, he provided us with tips and recommendations for the remainder of our journey throughout Portugal. Thanks!! Patronised The School of Translators of Toledo, Abbas Ibn Firnas 810 – 887 1492  Moorish rule ends with the fall of Granada to Ferdinand and Isabella. All of this, at a time when London had a largely illiterate population of around 20,000 and had forgotten the technical advances of the Romans some 600 hundred years beforehand. For our trip to Portugal my wife and I wanted insider access to the best experiences without getting bogged down in too many touristy things. read less - 6/20/2019, Ryan and Will are amazing! Expanded Cordoba’s mesquita, Alfonso X of Castille 1221- 1284 In fact, of course, we all owe a debt to Arabic learning and their intellectual achievements of the past. How did the Moors end up in Spain? The Visigoths: Arrival in Spain. So influential were his writings that even today he is considered one of the foremost Rabbi’s and thinkers of the Jewish religion. ), three hundred public baths, five hundred mosques and seventy libraries – one of which held some 500,000 books. It truly was a tortuous process complicated by the high degree of integration between Muslims and Christians in many parts of the country and also by the fact that the Christian states were often as much at war with each other as they were with the Muslims. We were able to see many parts of this beautiful... We had a very enjoyable trip to Portugal. With the death of Franco in November 1975 did Spain return to the monarchy, this time ... with signs of Byzantine influence. They understood what our visit meant to us & offered us fantastic guides & activities. maybe the best or right up there with a guided trip to Bhutan. In Northern Spain the various Christian kingdoms united to expel the Moors from the European continent. Moor is a word most misused in the English language of today. Obrigada! I've traveled the world for food and wine, having many amazing experiences along the way. They show you a true picture of what goes on, busting myths about the wine and port industry to show you the real side of Douro. We were treated like esteemed guests everywhere we went and even treated like family is more like it! Ryan and his team of angels of Catavino created an absolute exceptional itinerary for our group of 10 from Minnesota. read less - 9/19/2017, My husband and I had a wonderful day on a private tour with Ryan throughout the Douro Valley. Catavino designed an amazing tour for our private group. But Ryan Opaz is not all of Catavino. Indeed, it has been said that they laid the foundations of the Renaissance that brought Europe out of the intellectual and physical gloom of the Middle Ages. The Reconquista was a very significant event in Spain. But, of course, the Moors in Spain did not just support great translators and developers of ideas and cerebral concepts. Our guide, Ryan Opaz, was extremely knowledgable and brought great enthusiasm... What an amazing trip with a fantastic group of people. The most recent one was quite specialized and required a good bit of research and diligence on Lucy’s part. Lisbon, the Duoro, Porto...all were fascinating. Patron of the arts and fine administrator Possibly encouraged to invade Spain in the first place by Hispano-Romans unhappy with the Vigigoths, the Moors came and stayed for around 700 years, leaving a definite imprint on the country, particularly Andalucia. we ate and drank superbly. Eventually, the Spanish brought sugar cane to the New World. The wine tastings, tours and meals they arranged were all superb. Ryan and Gabriella must have called in all of their personal favors because we met and drank wine with many winemakers, a wine shop owner and tasted '72 port which Oscar Quevedo's grandfather had made. Up until then, Europeans had only prepared very sweet confitures, often with honey. Best regards, Emma, Emma, how kind! I am grateful that Lucy was running with my requests because I don’t think anyone else would have had the inside contacts and resources to put it together. Highly recommend anyone looking to learn about Porto and Portugal through the history and cultural importance of important 5 drinks wine, coffee, tea, port and beer. We had a very enjoyable trip to Portugal. A beautiful day in the Douro… Gorgeous scenery of course, but our bespoke itinerary included a visit to Favaios for bakeries and a Moscatel tasting, a worker’s lunch and winery visit in Pinhão and a... A beautiful day in the Douro… Gorgeous scenery of course, but our bespoke itinerary included a visit to Favaios for bakeries and a Moscatel tasting, a worker’s lunch and winery visit in Pinhão and a short stop in Amarante to see the church and sample pastries there. The tour was a highlight of our trip. Excellent wines, wonderful views, terrific people and a delightful lunch topped off with a lovely boat ride. He is extremely knowledgeable and helped us learn to appreciate Port. We tasted this year’s new wine and port from a 10,000-liter cask. Our tour guide, Ryan Opaz, was extremely knowledgeable about the wines, the Quintas, the history of Port and Portuguese table wine and the country of Portugal. These tribes from North Africa left an outstanding cultural legacy behind them in Al-Andalús, or Andalucía as i… Fantastic, approved by an italian! We had the chance to meet one very young producer (Oscar Quevedo: thanks!) It was an education about wine we couldn't have experienced anywhere else. The Moors were the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and Malta during the Middle Ages.The Moors initially were the indigenous Maghrebine Berbers. From that point on, the Catholic Church began its heavy influence on Spanish politics, history, customs and traditions [source: Cross]. They planned the tour around our desires (wine, food, culture) and within our budget requirements. While we may have found and arranged a few of them on our own there's no way we would have found or been able to arrange them all. This is a must! Brought Aristotle’s ides of logic and analytical thinking back to the West, Moses Maimonides 1135 – 1204 Like most learning experiences I feel like I’ve retained a fraction of what I learned about the wines and cuisine or Portugal. Designed new surgical instruments and techniques, Al Zarquali (Arzachel) 1028 – 1087 Day 3: March 2, 2020. This was complemented by sophisticated metalworking and weaving techniques and complex interior design skills that took buildings to new heights of intensive and intricate decoration. He is a Renaissance man with a great knowledge of food, wine and culture. who did a complete tour through one... My husband and I had a wonderful day on a private tour with Ryan throughout the Douro Valley. So glad we decided to work with them and didn't try to save a couple bucks and do this trip DIY. They planned the tour around our desires (wine, food, culture) and within our budget requirements. They were quick to respond to my inquiry and communicated with us throughout the process. Ryan and Gabriella must have called in all of... read moreWe were part of the 2016 Harvest Tour and had the experience of a lifetime! As the Moors built mini-alliances and fought amongst themselves, the Christians to the North were doing just the opposite. Spanish Culture | Valencia Property Blog, Pingback: Articles and information about Spain. Philosopher and mystic Pingback: The Moors in Spain…are returning! Established Caliphate and intellectual tradition of Cordoba I felt very good about having her in Catavino's hands.... Ana arranged a trip for my client through Portugal. Ask for William he was amazing as our guide. Whereas an Arab was an Arab and a Moor was Black person , Christianized, Jew or Islamic convert. Pingback: Holidays in Spain and the top four tourist attractions in Spain! and we all agreed that our Catavino Portugal 3 week trip with Ryan was outstanding. Discussion/Question. our seafood extravaganza dinner and the 77 year old port wine tasting was the best meal that I have ever had on a vacation. Catavino also sent us tons of information about Porto to help us with our trip planning. As with all traveling and migrating peoples, the Moors (a general term rooted in Latin that has evolved from the word “maurus”, once used to describe a person from the Roman province of Mauretania, in North Africa) brought many facets of their cultural along for the journey. However, by good fortune, the libraries of Toledo, in particular, survived the conquest of that city by the Christian King Alfonso VI in 1085 and Toledo quickly became a European centre for the translation of Arabic texts into Latin – the universal, educated language of Western Europe. The Catavino team is world class. Return to main History of Spain page Back to the Time of the Visigoths - 408 to 711. maybe the... we are a regular group of experienced upscale travelers. Spanish Culture | Devanio, WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US? Echoing the comments of the previous reviews below, my wife and I experienced one memorable experience topped each day by the next memorable experience. Father of secular thought in Western Europe They understood what our visit meant to us & offered us fantastic guides & activities. But Ryan Opaz is not all of Catavino. We can't recommend them enough! 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