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Fes, imperial city, capital of spirituality.
It was from the year 700 that the various successive dynasties – the Almoravids and Almohadi, Merinidi and Idrisidi – began to build noteworthy Palaces, mosques, city walls, imperial residences… even if the history of Morocco existed even before.
In Fes (or Fez, you will find it written in two different ways), the story is breathed at every step, at every corner, every single pebble tells the past of this wonderful city. It is no coincidence that it has been declared “World Heritage Site” by Unesco, whose intervention has allowed to recover the historical centre.
Fes, located in the north-east of Morocco, has more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, distributed between the Medina (Fes el-Bali), Fes el-Jedid and the new city.
This city fully embodies the history of Morocco and has always been considered the spiritual and religious capital (its history was born from the union of two ancient cities that welcomed Muslims expelled from Cordoba and refugees from Tunisia).
The most common architecture is Arab-Andalusian architecture and you can discover it “losing yourself” among the many alleys. In order to find the “straight street”, the thematic placards inside the medina, diversified with 3 different colours, come to help us: the circuit “walls and ramparts”, the circuit “Andalusian quarter” and the circuit “Fes el-Jedid” where we meet the Royal Palace Dar-el-Makhzen and the Jewish district (mellah).
The Jewish quarter is met in many of the cities in Morocco, because the country has always been very hospitable to those seeking refuge.
Fes el-Bali is the oldest district and, as mentioned above, it contains the Medina, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and by virtue of its extension, as well as the number of inhabitants (more than 150,000), can be considered the largest pedestrian area in the world!
Among the most attractive monuments certainly the Mederse, or Koranic schools, and in particular the Medersa Bou Inania, the largest and sumptuous built by Merinidi (1350 – 1355 AD) and Medersa Karouine (859 AD) annexed to the homonymous university, the oldest in the world among those still active today.
Another symbol of the city of Fes is the tanneries, where cow, goat and camel skins (used mainly for book covers) and camel skins are processed. About tanneries: at the entrance a branch of mint leaves will be distributed to you… don’t throw it away, after a few steps you will discover the reason for it.
And then we leave for this “virtual visit” of the most beautiful places of Fes:
The Fundouk is a caravanserai and was used to provide food, accommodation and rest to traders of luxury goods from within Morocco. It was built in the 18th century, has been declared a historical monument in 1916 and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the building there is the Wood Museum.
This mosque was founded in 859 and is one of the oldest in the Western Muslim world. He was also the first university in Morocco, attended by the scholars of the time and even by Pope Silvester II. Still today it is considered one of the main spiritual and intellectual centers of Islam and is still the seat of the Islamic University of Fes. It can accommodate up to 20,000 people in prayer. Non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the mosque.
The Medersa el-Attarine (the Koranic school) is located in the Karaouiyine district and is considered one of the wonders of Moorish architecture. It was built between 1323 and 1325 and has all the characteristics of a medieval Islamic school.
It is universally considered the most beautiful Koranic school in Fes. It was built between 1350 and 1357. Inside, it contains a veritable mosque with a minaret. It is one of the few Islamic religious buildings in the country that is open to non-Muslims.
his part of the city has kept its appearance almost intact throughout the last millennium, because the presence of hills that have prevented uncontrolled expansion. Around 156,000 inhabitants live in this maze of narrow streets, squares and souks. The access to the Medina is through Bab Bou Jeloud and whatever direction you take, it converges to Place an-Nejjarine. To find your way around the Medina, you can follow the guided routes indicated in different colours, high up on the walls of the buildings.
The tanneries are certainly one of the most famous attractions of the city… despite the smell to welcome the many visitors. As a rule, it is not possible to wander around the dyeing tanks, but there are many points from which you can observe the work that is done to transform the leathers into finished objects (all leather shops will offer you this possibility). Early in the morning, the tanks are still full of dyeing colors.
Despite the tourist aspect, you can buy excellent products at a good price.
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