Cultural trip to Iraq: Archaeology, landscapes and ethnography

Discover the highlights of this trip to Iraq

Baghdad: Gateway to Ancient Mesopotamia

We will begin our cultural trip to Iraq in Baghdad, a city where past and present coexist in a vibrant and surprising way. Here, we will discover the National Museum of Iraq, home to one of the richest Mesopotamian collections in the world. We will see cuneiform tablets, sculptures, and artefacts that tell more than five thousand years of history. Also, we will visit the Martyrs’ Monument, an imposing work of contemporary architecture symbolising memory and resilience. From this point onwards, we will start a deep immersion into Iraq’s cultural heritage.

Samarra and Mosul: Abbasid Legacy and Reconstruction

We will continue our cultural trip to Iraq towards Samarra, one of the great centres of the Abbasid Caliphate. Here, we will contemplate the famous Malwiya Spiral Minaret, a unique masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Also, we will visit a second minaret in the surrounding plains, offering wide-open views of the landscape. Later, we will arrive in Mosul, a city that is experiencing a remarkable rebirth. As we walk through its old town, we will observe ongoing restoration work at emblematic sites such as the Al-Nuri Mosque. Finally, we will explore Hatra, the first Iraqi city ever declared a World Heritage Site.

Alqosh and Lalish: Christian Spirituality and Yazidi Tradition

Next, we will travel through the north of the country, a region marked by religious diversity. In Alqosh, we will visit the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd, carved into the rock since the 7th century, as well as the Tomb of the Prophet Nahum. We will then continue to Lalish, the spiritual heart of the Yazidi people. This sacred valley preserves ancestral rituals that remain alive within the community. This stage will bring a deeply spiritual dimension to our cultural trip to Iraq.

Ctesiphon and the Power of Ancient Persia

We will continue our route southwards to visit Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sasanian Empire. Here, we will admire the celebrated Arch of Ctesiphon, the largest brick vault in the world. This monumental structure will reveal the architectural grandeur of ancient Persia.

Babylon and Karbala: Legendary History and Shia Spirituality

We will proceed with our cultural trip to Iraq by exploring Babylon, one of the most iconic cities of Antiquity. There, we will walk among ruins associated with Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II and learn about the remains of the legendary Ishtar Gate. From the nearby hill, we will also view Saddam Hussein’s former palace towering above the site. We will then continue towards Karbala, one of the main spiritual centres of Shia Islam. There, we will visit the Shrine of Imam Hussein, a profoundly revered place.

Najaf and the Tomb of Ezekiel: Pilgrimage and Memory

We will then head to the Tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel, a site important to several religious traditions. Afterwards, we will travel to Najaf, where we will visit the Shrine of Imam Ali, one of the most ornate sanctuaries in the Islamic world. Alos, we will walk through the vast Wadi Al-Salam cemetery, considered the largest on the planet.

Uruk, Deserts, and Bedouin Culture

We will move further south to meet a Bedouin family and learn about their ancestral traditions. Later, we will explore Uruk, one of the first cities in human history. Here, we will contemplate archaeological remains linked to King Gilgamesh and observe cuneiform tablets, temples, and ziggurats. This stage will reinforce the historical depth of our cultural trip to Iraq.

Mesopotamian Heritage in this cultural trip to Iraq

We will continue towards Ur to admire its impressive ziggurat, one of the most emblematic monuments of Mesopotamia. Afterwards, we will enter the Mesopotamian Marshes, an ancient ecosystem and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will navigate through reeds and visit a traditional mudhif, a house built using Sumerian techniques that have survived to this day.

© Photos by Begoña Fernández-Colmeiro and Xavi de las Heras taken during a cultural trip to Iraq.

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