For a very long time, we’ve got dreamed of visiting Fez the cultural capital of Morocco, a metropolis steeped in historical past. We be a part of the small studio that we rented for per week, situated a couple of steps from the medina. What a shock once I obtained there! Our host welcomes us in a luxurious palace, with partitions adorned with many mosaics and different arabesques. The place deserves a renovation however, in any case, the marks of time make additionally its allure. We even notice that this palace, known as El Mokri, is on the record of monuments to go to on TripAdvisor!
We cheerfully set off to discover the medina … which shortly places our sense of route to the check. The labyrinth appears specifically designed to attract the customer into its lifeless ends and even the GPS of our telephones throw within the towel, unable to navigate. However the misery of some makes the happiness of others. The touts wait in strategic locations and demand on displaying us the appropriate path!
That day, we’re a little bit dissatisfied by the medina of Fez and the quiet ambiance of southern Morocco appears far-off. The gang jostles us, ten-year-old children provide kif (hashish), closely loaded donkeys are overwhelmed to advance … We guess that town does have charms, however nonetheless drained from our night time bus experience, we needed to uncover them. We comeback as greatest we will, dropping one another eight or ten occasions.
The following day, effectively rested and decided to present the medina a second likelihood, we soar out from our beds on the first rays of solar. At 7:30 am, the alleys are virtually abandoned and the touts are nonetheless snoozing. Till 10 a.m., the outdated city of Fez thus idles. With the outlets closed, we discover the architectural particulars and traces of the previous a lot better: right here a finely chiseled door, there a mosaic fountain …
Moroccans are additionally hotter than the day earlier than, like this girl who lends us cushions whereas we’re seating in entrance of the gate of her retailer; or that audio cassette vendor,who insists on sharing his glass of mint tea. Commonly, we come throughout portraits of the king, effectively framed and highlighted,within the outlets and within the alleys of the medina. As quickly as a Moroccan sees us check out it, he hastens to inform us, “Did you see? That is Mohammed VI, our king. A superb king! “.
Why Fez is the cultural Capital of Morocco?
Fez is likely one of the nice legendary cities of the Arab world identical to Istanbul, Baghdad or Jerusalem. That’s why Fez is the cultural capital of Morocco. This tangle of alleys was as famend for its craftsmanship as for its mental and non secular stage.
The town is house to many Koranic faculties known as Medersas, a few of that are architectural masterpieces. After which, a mosque of twenty thousand locations managed to make a spot within the coronary heart of the medina. That is the venerable Al Karaouiyne Mosque, which homes each the oldest college and the oldest library on the planet. It’s in the midst of the medina that we walked previous it a number of occasions with out noticing it! Entry is prohibited to non-Muslims, however here’s a tip to watch it from above and choose its dimension: close to one of many foremost doorways, a store of handmade blankets opens entry to its terrace in change for ten dirhams per individual. Ask native merchants to inform you.
Close to our palace , We visited one other which belonged to the Pasha of Marrakech and which bears his identify: El Glaoui. It’s doable to ask to go to it by addressing the caretaker Abdou, grandson of the pasha’s former steward, or his spouse, in change for a free donation. And it’s price it! Think about a palace of greater than a thousand rooms, adorned by the very best craftsmen with the very best supplies… What number of nuggets like this are nonetheless hidden in Fez? The extra we uncover town, the extra we’ve got the sensation that we solely catch a glimpse of a tiny a part of its unimaginable heritage.
300 meters from the gorgeous Bab Boujloud gate, is the Jnan Sbil backyard. It’s good to relaxation on this inexperienced oasis after a tiring go to to the outdated city. After a couple of days, we begin to choose up our habits. We’re very proud to search out our means round with out getting misplaced! Because the eating places are fairly costly for the nation, we prepare dinner our meals and favor native merchandise: greens, semolina, Ras El-Hanout (a combination of spices for the tagine), mint, citrus fruits … Whereas the craft sellers communicate good French, it isn’t all the time straightforward to converse with grocers, our accents are completely different!
As a farewell to Fez the cultural capital of Morocco, we go as much as El Qolla hill which homes the ruins of the Marinid tombs. Many Moroccans come to take a seat at nightfall, to benefit from the excellent panorama and overlook the chaos of Fez. The silence doesn’t break till the final rays of the solar, when the decision to prayer goes forth and echoes all through the valley.
Click on right here, To e book your day journey to Fez to find this lovely Moroccan Pearl.
