For a very long time, we’ve dreamed of visiting Fez the cultural capital of Morocco, a metropolis steeped in historical past. We be part of the small studio that we rented for per week, positioned a couple of steps from the medina. What a shock after I received there! Our host welcomes us in a luxurious palace, with partitions embellished 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 understand that this palace, known as El Mokri, is on the checklist of monuments to go to on TripAdvisor!
We cheerfully set off to discover the medina … which rapidly places our sense of route to the take a look at. 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 correct path!
That day, we’re slightly upset by the medina of Fez and the quiet environment of southern Morocco appears distant. The gang jostles us, ten-year-old youngsters supply kif (hashish), closely loaded donkeys are overwhelmed to advance … We guess that the town does have charms, however nonetheless drained from our night time bus journey, we needed to uncover them. We comeback as greatest we will, shedding one another eight or ten instances.
The subsequent day, nicely rested and decided to offer the medina a second likelihood, we bounce out from our beds on the first rays of solar. At 7:30 am, the alleys are nearly abandoned and the touts are nonetheless snoozing. Till 10 a.m., the previous city of Fez thus idles. With the retailers 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. Usually, we come throughout portraits of the king, nicely framed and highlighted,within the retailers 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 great king! “.
Why Fez is the cultural Capital of Morocco?
Fez is without doubt 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 degree.
Town is dwelling to many Koranic colleges 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 this planet. It’s in the midst of the medina that we walked previous it a number of instances with out noticing it! Entry is prohibited to non-Muslims, however here’s a tip to look at it from above and choose its dimension: close to one of many fundamental doorways, a store of handmade blankets opens entry to its terrace in trade for ten dirhams per particular person. Ask native merchants to let you know.
Close to our palace , We visited one other which belonged to the Pasha of Marrakech and which bears his title: El Glaoui. It’s attainable to ask to go to it by addressing the caretaker Abdou, grandson of the pasha’s former steward, or his spouse, in trade for a free donation. And it’s value it! Think about a palace of greater than a thousand rooms, embellished by one of the best craftsmen with one of the best supplies… What number of nuggets like this are nonetheless hidden in Fez? The extra we uncover the town, the extra we’ve 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 previous city. After a couple of days, we begin to decide up our habits. We’re very proud to seek out our manner 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 mix of spices for the tagine), mint, citrus fruits … Whereas the craft sellers communicate excellent French, it’s not at all times simple to converse with grocers, our accents are totally 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.