LONDON: Antonio Banderas has swapped film for fashion, at least temporarily. The “Mask of Zorro” star is studying at Central Saint Martins, the London college that trained designers Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.
This week, Banderas tweeted a picture of himself surrounded by dressmaker’s dummies and the words: “The 2nd week of studies at Central St. Martin begins. Intense, exciting, serious and fun all the same time.” The college confirmed Thursday that the actor is taking a specially crafted short course in fashion. The course lasts several weeks and is due to end before full-time students return in October.
The 55-year-old Spanish actor told a British TV show earlier this year that he aspired to study fashion.
![]()
Antonio Banderas swaps film for fashion with college stint
Antonio Banderas swaps film for fashion with college stint
Makkah museum displays world’s largest Qur’an
MAKKAH: The Holy Qur’an Museum at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an, recognized as the largest Qur’an of its kind in the world.
The manuscript measures 312 cm by 220 cm and comprises 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for displaying the world’s largest Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Qur’an dating back to the 16th century, the SPA stated.
The original copy measures 45 cm by 30 cm, with the chapters written primarily in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined artistic choices and calligraphic diversity of the era.
The Qur’an is a unique example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding and bookbinding, showcasing Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and elaborately designed frontispiece and title pages that reflect a high level of artistic mastery.
The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1883. Its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, serving as a lasting testament to Muslims’ enduring reverence for the Qur’an and the richness of Islamic arts across the centuries.
Latest updates
Recommended
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.