Fès
Fez is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world Its
narrow alleys and streets along with medieval looking Islamic
Schools, restaurants, workshops, markets, shops and ancient palaces
do make something special although chaotic to experience. Fez, the
capital of the North was funded a few years after the Arabs came to
this region. Around 800AD, King Idriss II continued his father will
of building a new bigger capital city, so Fez was born and grew from
a modest Berber town to a considerably residential and commercial
centre with the arrival of 8000 Al-Andalusian families that quickly
mixed along some Arab families that came from Qayrawan in Tunisia.
Fez as a lot to offer. You can experience different
monuments and Royal Palaces, narrow streets with local bazaars and
shops, you can visit the city’s ancient leather dye pits and
tanneries and get lost in is Old Medina.
Meknès
Another of the Moroccan
Imperial Cities almost 100km West of Fez. Meknesis the more laid
back of the Imperial cities and reflects its heritage as once the
centre of the Moroccan Sultanate still seen in the several Palaces
and castle walls around the old Medina. The Berber tribe of the
Meknassis first moved to the region around the 10th century but was
only around the 17th century that Meknesstart gaining some more
respect as an Imperial city when the Alawite dynasty here
established the country’s capital under the power of Moulay Ismail.
In 1755 Lisbon’s huge earthquake gave Meknesa strong shake and many
of its monuments were for ever lost.
Rabat
This
great capital is a very interesting point to escape all other
Imperial cities hassle and hustle. Rabat combines very well new
modern cosmopolitan way of living with ancient palace and old
Medinas inside castle walls facing the Atlantic coast. Rabat has a
lot to offer and you’ll see plenty starting from the beautiful
palaces and Mohammad 5th Mausoleum, to the Old Kasbah de Oudaias and
its Andalusian Gardens.
Rabat has ancient settlements since the
Phoenicians and Romans and only by the 10th and 12th century with
the arrival of Almohads that’s the city started to get some size and
more importance. From here, Yacoub Al-Mansour started his Iberian
Peninsula Conquer and a few years later with its success, Ribat
al-Fatah aka Rabat gained great prosperity. Rabat was Morocco’s
capital for several times until when the French decided to change
the government from Fès to Rabat.
Marrakech
Marrakech is the capital of the South. The wonder of many travelers
than even with lots of tourist activity still remains special and
unique. Marrakesh was in history for 2 times the capital of Morocco
and actually gave the nowadays western name of Morocco. Marrakesh
was founded in 1062 by Almoravid Sultan Youssef Ben Tachfinand, and
quickly became very prosperous and one of the most important Islamic
cultural and artistic centers as it was expanded after the conquest
of Spain by the Almoravid Sultan. Marrakech offers a lot to
travelers and Arrahla Expeditions recommends at least 2 full days in
this thrilling town. Its famous square, Djeemaa Elfna is one of its
main attractions and is a mixture of restaurant stands along with
snake charmers, monkeys, acrobats, fire blowers, loud live music and
endless Souq gates. Indeed a must while in Morocco
Note:
The order of the visit changes and depends on your
arrival point. If you arrive in Marrakesh, the circuit will start
differently than if you arrive in Casablanca or in the northern
border with Ceuta.
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