“Andalusian Heritage” Foundation: Exhibition “Journey to Samarkand. Report on the Embassy of Ruy González de Clavijo to Amir Timur (1403–1406)”

At the Headquarters of the “Andalusian Heritage” Foundation: Exhibition “Journey to Samarkand. Report on the Embassy of Ruy González de Clavijo to Amir Timur (1403–1406)”

The exhibition introduces visitors to one of the most remarkable episodes of medieval diplomacy between Castile and the East.

The curator of the exhibition is Professor Rafael López Guzmán from the University of Granada. The display traces the embassy’s route from Cádiz to Samarkand via Constantinople, Anatolia, Armenia, Persia, and Transoxiana. Visitors can view artifacts from the collections of the Andalusian Heritage Foundation, private collections, and institutions such as the Library of the Royal Hospital of the University of Granada and the Royal Chapel.

A special place is given to three historical editions of Clavijo’s chronicle (1582, 1782, and 2009), as well as a reliquary containing the hand of Saint John the Baptist from the Royal Chapel of Granada—an object that Clavijo described with particular reverence in his writings.

The organizers emphasize that the exhibition not only showcases rare artifacts and offers insight into the history of diplomatic dialogue, cultural contacts, and mutual perceptions between East and West in the early 15th century, but also allows the European public to gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance of Samarkand and the Timurid legacy, which played a key role in the history not only of Uzbekistan but of the entire Eurasian region.

The exhibition will remain open until January 9, 2026.