Jul 25 2007 3 mins 13
In 711, Muslim Moors swept in from Northern Africa and conquered the Iberian Peninsula, ruling Spain for five centuries and inspiring a Europe-wide crusade among Christians to re-conquer the land. Though Muslim rule stretched as far as France, bit by bit the Moors were pushed back, and eventually expelled from Western Europe in 1492, but not before leaving a distinct mark on Andalusian culture. A prime example of Moorish influence, Seville’s Alcazar provides a thought-provoking glimpse at a graceful Moorish world. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
