The
Irresistible Lure of Fez by Sylvia Arad
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Fez, the oldest and most
important of Morocco's imperial cities, was the capital of Morocco for
over four centuries. It remains to this day the cultural and religious
center of the country.
Fez is divided into three
sections of which the Medina, the medieval city is the most important.
Founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idriss, Fez el Bali, the medieval
city, or Medina, is the labyrinthine heart and center of Fez. Fez el Jedid,
the "new" city, was established in the 13th century and houses the Mellah,
the old Jewish quarter. The Ville Nouvelle was built by the French in the
early 29th century and holds no historical interest. Suspended between
the Middle Ages and modern times, mystical Fez is intriguing. Its medieval
design is visual proof of its history and culture, with its old buildings
maintaining the feel and appearance of hundreds of years ago in an architectural
style long gone.
Fez houses many lovely buildings,
enclosed courtyards and intricately designed gateways. The Kairaouine Mosque,
Morocco's most important mosque and learning center for over 1000 years,
is found here. Though non-Muslims cannot gain entrance, they can get a
glimpse of the mosque through the open doors.
To look in, you get a sense
of the sheer size and power of this center. In the same area, you can visit
other hundreds-year old schools, with detailed archways leading to beautiful
courtyards.
The Belghazi Museum, housed
in a 17th century Riad, a town house built around an enclosed inner garden,
is well worth a visit, as is Bou Inania, an ancient ornate courtyard.
Fez' main attraction is
its Medina, which has retained its medieval soul and spirit, with its winding
streets and alleys too narrow for modern transportation. Here, donkeys,
horses and mules rule, delivering supplies to local shops and souks while
throngs of people on foot crowd the alleys and tunnel ways.
The Medina is a maze, with
souks rife with crafts using methods from the medieval past, the most famous
being the dyes souk, where cloth and yarn are died over ancient vats of
multicolored dyes. Visiting the tanner's quarter you can watch craftsmen
expertly plying their trade. Side by side with everyday essentials, each
quarter holds its own hammam (bathhouse), bakery, cobbler and every craft
and trade needed for daily life.
Wandering aimlessly in the
maze of alleyways and tiny streets, you're bound to stumble upon a palace,
carved fountains and intricately designed monuments with quotes from the
Koran, adorned in lovely tiles and lavish marble, or a riad from the 19th
century! Getting lost here is part of the fun and adventure.
The charm of Fez lies in
that sense of a different time it exudes -sights that remind one of the
distant past: From palaces, balconies, courtyards and ramparts to the walls
that were used for defense, combined with the sounds of everyday life and
the throngs of people, make Fez a human beehive with the feel and appearance
of centuries past.
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About the Author: I'm a trip
consultant, planner and manager who loves creating unique intercultural
adventures for families. I want to impart information,tips and personal
experiences especially related to family adventure travel. www.familyadventuretravelworks.com |
