The new Amazigh Space, the first of its kind to open in Europe, is located in the Carmen de los Porcel building, which is situated within the Alhambra complex in Granada.
This project was formalised in June 2025 through an institutional agreement aimed at creating this exhibition space dedicated entirely to Amazigh culture, which is closely linked to Al-Andalus and the city of Granada.
The legacy of Amazigh culture
The history of Granada, the Alhambra and the ancient Nasrid Kingdom is closely linked to the Amazigh dynasties and communities that played a decisive role in the political, military and cultural development of Al-Andalus.
Granada inherited much of this Amazigh political, cultural and artistic legacy, whose historical connections it now seeks to highlight with the opening of the Amazigh Space, which will offer new insights into interpreting Al-Andalus heritage from a Mediterranean perspective.
The exhibition is organised into two thematic sections addressing both artistic and social aspects. It covers an area of 162 square metres, bringing together nearly 200 pieces that highlight the mark left by this culture on the history of Al-Andalus.
The new space, located within the Alhambra complex, is not only dedicated to exhibitions but also to research and public outreach, with the aim of promoting awareness of Amazigh heritage and its various cultural expressions.
Patricia del Pozo, the Regional Minister for Culture and Sport of the Andalusian Regional Government, admires some of the highlights of the exhibition – PHOTO/ALHAMBRA DE GRANADA
Exhibition space
The museum tour of the Amazigh Space is structured around an introductory area and seven sections spread over two floors, featuring audiovisual resources, historical maps, heritage artefacts and interactive elements.
During this tour, visitors can discover the origins of the Amazigh peoples, their cultural identity, their language and the territories they have historically inhabited. The exhibition also addresses the evolution of the Tifinagh alphabet and the contemporary processes of recovery and revitalisation of the Tamazight language.
Furthermore, it explores the fundamental role played by Amazigh communities in the formation of Al-Andalus and in the construction of a shared political and cultural space between the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula.
The exhibition is rounded off with an exploration of the links between Granada and the Amazigh tradition, as well as the manifestations of its living heritage, reflected in the architecture, crafts, textiles, ceramics, music and ways of life that continue to define this rich cultural legacy.
Spanish-Moroccan initiative
The initiative to create this space was the result of a joint effort by the Alhambra Trust and the Dr Leila Mezian Foundation, a Moroccan-based philanthropic organisation focused on social, cultural and educational projects, particularly the preservation and promotion of Amazigh culture.
Also worthy of note is the collaboration of the Spanish diplomat Jorge Dezcallar and his wife, Teresa Eça, who have contributed a collection of traditional Amazigh jewellery, which is on display in this space alongside textiles, ceramics and everyday objects from North Africa.
During the opening, the acting Regional Minister for Culture and Sport of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Patricia del Pozo, highlighted “the first European cultural centre dedicated entirely to the research, dissemination and promotion of the historical, artistic and ethnological heritage of this Mediterranean civilisation, which was fundamental to the construction of Al-Andalus”.
Among those attending the opening ceremony was the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich (right) – PHOTO/X/MOROCCAN EMBASSY IN SPAIN
The Minister explained that the Amazigh Space “brings together a total of 189 items, including jewellery, ceramics, textiles and other significant objects of daily life, as well as audiovisual resources, which introduce visitors to more than 3,000 years of Amazigh history, emphasising its links with Andalusia.
The opening ceremony was attended by various officials from the Regional Government of Andalusia, as well as the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich; the Royal Adviser to Morocco and Co-President of the Three Cultures Foundation, André Azoulay; the Executive Director of BMCE Bank, Othman Benjelloun; the Vice-President of the Dr Leila Mezian Foundation, Dounia Benjelloun; the Spanish Ambassador and donor of the jewellery collection featured in the exhibition, Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, and his wife Teresa María Rego da Cunha de Eça, as well as the Director of the Alhambra and Generalife Trust, Rodrigo Ruiz-Jiménez.