A new cultural center dedicated to Amazigh heritage is set to open in December 2025, right in the heart of the Alhambra in Granada. Housed in the historic Carmen de los Porcel building, the space will showcase a remarkable collection built over more than fifty years by Leila Mezian Benjelloun, a prominent Moroccan philanthropist and cultural advocate.
The project, spearheaded by the Dr. Leila Mezian Foundation, aims to highlight the deep historical and cultural ties between Morocco and Spain. It was officially launched through a partnership agreement signed in Casablanca by Dounia Benjelloun, vice president of the foundation, and Rodrigo Ruiz Jimenez Carrera, director general of the Alhambra and Generalife Trust.
The signing ceremony brought together notable Moroccan and Spanish figures, underscoring the significance of the collaboration. Among the attendees were André Azoulay, advisor to King Mohammed VI, Spanish ambassador Enrique Ojeda Vila, and Patricia Del Pozo Fernandez, who oversees culture and sports for the Andalusian regional government.
The Amazigh Space will span 250 square meters, with 200 square meters devoted to a permanent exhibition. Designed as a dynamic and inclusive venue, it will explore the richness of Amazigh culture and its lasting impact on Andalusian civilization. The project builds on a precedent set in 2019 with the exhibition “11th Century Ziri Granada and the Berber World,” which opened in the presence of Queen Letizia of Spain.
With this initiative, the foundation continues the legacy of Leila Mezian Benjelloun, who was honored in 2016 with the Wissam Alaouite by King Mohammed VI for her lifelong dedication to education and cultural preservation. More than just a museum, the Amazigh Space aims to become a landmark of remembrance and cultural exchange—anchored in history, yet forward-looking—within one of the most iconic heritage sites in the world.
