This voyage from Seville to Venice takes us through regions that have been and continue to be among the most important meeting places of Jewish, Islamic, and Christian cultures—places that have seen confrontation and conquest, coexistence and dialogue, tolerance and ideological warfare. The team of study leaders outlined below are uniquely qualified to help us understand both the history of conflict and strife between these civilizations (the Reconquista of Spain, for example, or ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s) as well as historical models of cooperation and intellectual exchange (the period of Muslim rule in Andalusia, the flowering of culture in Ottoman Europe).

We depart from majestic Seville for Morocco, where the elegant capital of Rabat and Marrakech’s medina, colorful souks (markets), and architectural landmarks await. Back in Spain we wander through the fabled Alhambra and amidst Alicante’s Moorish architecture. Delve into the ancient Roman ruins of Algeria’s Tipasa and Hippo Regius before a visit to Tunisia’s Carthage. In Sicily, discover how Palermo and Monreale’s Norman and Arabic influences mingled with the Byzantine and Romanesque to produce stunning cathedrals and works of art. Rounding out the voyage are visits to old villages and towns in Montenegro and the walled city of Split in Croatia, centered around the Palace of Diocletian. With 57 suites accommodating only 114 guests, the Corinthian II features a beautiful dining room, comfortable lounges and public areas, and broad decks for sunning or watching the passing scene.

Our study leaders are:

Kevin Reinhart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College, specializing in Islamic and comparative religious studies. 

Duncan Smith is Emeritus Professor of German Studies and Modern Culture and Media at Brown University. He taught and wrote about the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian engagements on the territories of the former Roman Empire and has lectured about both past and present conflicts and reconciliations among those faiths and cultures.

Judith Colton is Professor Emeritus of the History of Art at Yale University, where she taught from 1973 to 2006. Her early research focused on sculpture in 18th-century England and France and led to a book called The Parnasse François:Titon du Tillet and the Origins of the Monument to Genius.

Wayne Meeks is Woolsey Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University. He is best known for his publications on the writings of the apostle Paul and on the Fourth Gospel, for his investigation of the social history of earliest Christianity, and for work on the formation of early Christian morality. His most recent book is Christ is the Question.

We will also meet with the US consulate in Seville. Part of the discussion will revolve around about Spain’s neighbor, Morocco, and the immigration issues between the two countries and as well as current issues between Spain's Christians and Muslims.