Fes فاس
After Essaouira we went to Fes…
Fes is one of the oldest cities in the world founded in the 9th century. It was selected as a Unesco world heritage site in 1981.
Duration: 3 nights (Oct. 28 - 31)
Hotel: Dar Fes Tresor
Transportation: From Essaouira, we headed back to Marrakech, spent one night there and then the next day we took the train to Fes.
We booked our train tickets on the same day of departure at Marrakech train station. We were recommended by the locals to chose first class since its a long trip (8 hours long), and economy class could be crowded. The prices and timetable could be found here:
http://www.marrakechtickets.co.uk/morocco-rail-timetables/marrakech-to-fes/
Marrakech train station
Recommended places in Fes
Since Fes is a big city with a lot of things to see and lots of narrow streets and with the chance of getting lost we took half a day privet guided city tour, our guide Mr. Ahmed Alsaadi was one of the highlights in our Moroccan trip, he is very informative and took us to amazing places. Click here to know more.
This gate in the entrance to the old medina of Fes. It is also known as the blue gate. It was colored blue to welcome those entering the city, and from the other side it is painted in green to say goodbye and wishes those who are leaving to come back again.
Fes el-Bali or the old city of Fes has two main alleys: Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sghira. Talaa means a hill and kebira mean big, so the big hill alley and Saghira mean small so the small hill alley. Both lanes will take you back in time to hundreds of years back. You will see all sorts of shops, markets, clothes, and goods selling stores to local crafts.
Bou Inania Madrasa المدرسة البوعنانية
One of the most famous schools in Fes and all of Morocco.
Rainbow street art شارع قوس قزح
A colorful small street with some selling goods and art, it connects both Talaa Kebira and Talaa Sghira.
University and Mosque of Al Quaraouiyine جامع و جامعة القرويين
The University of Quaraouiyine is the oldest university in the world that is still continually operating according to the Unesco, it was built in 859 and funded by Fatima Al-Fihri.
Seffarine Square ساحة الصفارين
A busy squares in Fes where you can watch one of the oldest trades practiced by coppersmiths and hear the noises from shaping and polishing all manner of pots, cauldrons, plates, and buckets.
Chouara Tannery دار شوارة للدبغ
Near Seffarine square is the chouara tannery, one of Fes’s three tanneries that have been still running since the 11th century. It is considered one of the most tourist attractions in the city. The work at the tannery is still running manually in the same style since the tannery started centuries ago. At the entrance of the tannery, you will receive mint because it is a bit smelly inside since they use various mixtures of cow urine, pigeon feces, quicklime, salt, and water – to clean and soften the tough skins. Watching the numerous stone vessels filled with different colored dyes and white liquids, workers walking around with their bare feet is defiantly a scene to remember.
All sort of leather products such as jackets, bags, sandals, etc. is sold in the tannery shop.
Zaouia Moulay Idriss II زاوية مولاي إدريس
A religious complex that contains the tomb of Moulay Idriss II who ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and is considered the primary founder of the city of Fes and the first Moroccan Islamic state.
Recommended restaurants
a tiny restaurant in Fes el-Bali (Talaa Kebira) that sells traditional Moroccan and Mexican foods. I had the best Kebab tagine there its called Tagine of kabab maghdour.
a traditional Moroccan restaurant inside a garden.
