Madrid’s New Museum to Showcase Its Islamic Heritage
The museum features a part of Madrid’s original Umayyad fortified wall, which dates back to the ninth century, when the city was founded by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba. The museum also displays various artefacts from the time when Madrid was known as Maŷrīṭ, such as pottery, coins, jewellery and weapons.
The museum aims to celebrate Madrid’s Islamic heritage and acknowledge its role in shaping the city’s culture and identity. The museum’s curator, Álvaro Soler, said that Madrid is the only European capital with Islamic origins, but this fact has been obscured by centuries of historical manipulation and denial. He said that the museum hopes to correct this distortion and educate the public about Madrid’s rich and diverse past.
The museum’s opening also coincides with a growing interest in Spain’s Islamic past among tourists and scholars. In recent years, several initiatives have been launched to promote the cultural and historical legacy of Al-Andalus, the name given to the Muslim-ruled territories in the Iberian Peninsula between the eighth and 15th centuries. These include the Route of Al-Andalus, a network of cities and monuments that showcase the Islamic influence on Spanish culture; and the Med-O-Med project, which aims to preserve and restore the Islamic gardens and landscapes in Spain and other Mediterranean countries.
In a huge room dedicated to remains found on site, visitors can hear about the city’s origins as the video installation shows a 3D reconstruction of Maŷrīṭ and tells the story of Spain’s capital highlighting its origins as an Islamic outpost.
The Galería de las Colecciones Reales will be inaugurated by Spain’s king and queen on June 25 and will open its doors to the public on June 29.
Source: Agencies
