Listing of Journey to Mecca events

For additional information about other Journey to Mecca programs at the Smithsonian, see this digital brochure.

(2009, 45 min., dir. Bruce Neibaur, English and Arabic)

Journey to Mecca, filmed in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, tells the story of Ibn Battuta, the legendary 14th-century traveler. He began his journey in 1325, traveled for almost 30 years, and covered three times the distance that Marco Polo had, or about 75,000 miles. His epic journey from Tangier, across North Africa, the Middle East, Mecca, the Arabian Peninsula, and beyond resonates with adventure and presents a picture of 14th-century Islamic civilization. The film culminates in a re-creation of Ibn Battuta’s first Hajj—the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Journey to Mecca then dissolves into dramatic modern-day footage of the Hajj, recorded in IMAX and showing more than 3 million pilgrims participating in the annual ritual.

A light reception provided by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia follows the screening.

The IMAX film opens on Jan. 14.