Historical Highlights of Fez
Begin your day with a panoramic view of Fes before visiting its historical sites and landmarks.
The 14th-century Palace Gates of the King - The Royal Palace in Fes is one of the oldest, dating back to the 14th century, and one of the largest in Morocco.
The Jewish Mellah - The Mellah is a Jewish quarter located in the old cities of Morocco and enclosed by walls. The Fes Mellah is also walled and has a fortified gateway. These Jewish quarters were located near royal residences so their inhabitants could be protected from the wrath of the Muslim populace. The Fes Mellah was once inhabited solely by Jews. It was the first mellah in Morocco and originated in 1438. It was founded by the Merinids beside Fes in the early 14th century. In contrast with the younger Mellah of Casablanca, the mellah of Fes is over 650 years old. This picturesque neighborhood adjoins the royal palace, noted for its recently constructed bright brass doors. Jews took shelter in this palace during the 1912 pogrom.
Ibn Danan Jewish Synagogue - Fes was once home to a flourishing Jewish community during the 17th century and was also the location of two well-known temples: the Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Danan Synagogue, built and founded by the Ibn Danan family, and the nearby Mansano Synagogue. The Ibn Danan Synagogue was added to the 1996 World Monuments Watch List and Fund.
Jewish Cemetery & Tomb of Solica - The cemetery contains the tombs of more Jewish saints than any other cemetery in Morocco. One of the most important saints is Lalla Solica, who was killed for refusing to convert to Islam. Solica was born in Tangier in 1817. At the age of 16, she was courted by a Muslim man but refused to marry him. To force her hand, the man went to the caid, the local government official, and claimed that Solica could not refuse his offer because she was no longer Jewish, having converted to Islam of her own free will. When called before the caid, she refused to acknowledge having converted. The Sultan called her to Fes, where she again denied her conversion. As a result, she was condemned to death for apostasy and killed in 1834. Walk through one of the oldest and most beautifully preserved Jewish streets in Morocco from the time of the Inquisition, then enter the Bab Boujloud Gate, the Blue Gate of Fes, and walk to Palais M'nebhi.
The Bou Inania Medersa - The Madrasa Bou Inania is a madrasa founded in AD 1351-56 by Abu Inan Faris, who also founded the Madrasa Bou Inania in Meknes. It is widely acknowledged as a major example of Marinid architecture. "Bou Inania" comes from the first part of the sultan's name, "Abou Inan." The madrasa functioned both as an educational institute and as a congregational mosque. It is the only madrasa in Fes with a minaret. According to history, religious leaders of the Kairouine Mosque advised Abu Inan Faris to build this madrasa. It was the last madrasa built by the Marinids. The Marinid, or Benemerine, dynasty was a Zenata Berber dynasty of Morocco. The madrasa became one of the most important religious places in Fes and Morocco, gaining the status of Grande Mosque. It was renovated in the 18th century.
Pottery & Zellij Tile Cooperative - Visit a cooperative where traditional techniques of zellij and pottery making are preserved. There is an option to participate in making zellij tile or pottery. It is also a great place to shop for fabulous pottery, zellij-tiled tables, zellij fountains, and more.
Rcife - Enter the medina from a bab, or district, of the old medina, Fes el Bali, known as Rcife, the heart of the manufacturing of Fassi goods. Cross the local fruit and vegetable market, where you will witness the stalls of local traders and people buying their daily goods.
Dyers souk of silk, wool, and cotton - The dyers market, located along Rue de Teinturies, is the best place to see the dyeing vats that have been used for centuries to soak the skins of sheep, goats, cows, and camels after their hair and flesh have been removed. You will see many tanned hides colored with natural pigments in shades of brown, black, turquoise, fuchsia, yellow, and orange.
Seffraine Square - Place el-Seffarine, this kisseria is the most important center for the production of Fassi-style ceramics, brassware, and silverware in Morocco.
The Tannery - The Chourara, or Tanner's Quarters, is one of the liveliest and most picturesque souks in Fès. The tanneries are often located near watercourses like the Wadi Fès and at a distance from residential areas because of the strongly unpleasant smells they produce. See the wide array of leatherwork, a tradition of Fes.
Weavers Cooperative - Visit the Weavers Cooperative, located in a residential neighborhood off a main shopping street. The workshop specializes in weaving the finest jellaba fabric, made of silk and wool threads imported from Italy. The shop also makes quality jellaba fabric from locally spun, textured wool thread called hubba, sometimes referred to as couscous because its nubby texture resembles Morocco's national semolina dish of the same name.
Mausoleum - Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Tijani - The Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani contains the tomb of an 18th-century Sufi Shaykh, founder of the Tijaniyya order. The zawiya presents a street facade highly ornamented with carved wood, stucco, and glazed tile.
University of Kairouine - Founded in 859, this university is one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world and is considered the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the world.
Mausoleum - Zaouia Moulay Idriss - A zaouia, or shrine, dedicated to and containing the tomb of Moulay Idriss II, who ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and founded the city of Fès for the second time in 810.
Lunch at a Moroccan restaurant in Fes - Menu: Entrée: varied salads. Main course: tajine of chicken with preserved lemon and tajine of beef with prunes (Burcock). Dessert: seasoned fruit.
Nejarine Square - This interesting square is dominated by the beautifully restored Nejjarine Wood Museum, housed in an 18th-century funduq. There is also a superbly decorated wall fountain. Browse the shops before venturing into the carpenters' souk with its amazing array of glitzy wedding chairs. Cross the carpenter area and go through Attarine Street, filled with the scents of Fes such as spices and oils.
Shopping and exploration: carpet shop, scarves, and local handicrafts - Antique and modern carpets are among the places in Fès el Bali where you can see a Berber carpet demonstration. Return to R'Cife and depart the medina.
