Fez or Fes is the capital of Islam in Morocco , located in the region formerly called Hispania Nova. Considered the religious and cultural center of the country .
Its university, famous for the study of Arabic and the Muslim religion, makes it a center for students from all over the country.
The city is divided into three areas, Fes El-Bali the old area within the walls, Fes El-Jdid the new area where the Mellah, the Jewish quarter and the Ville Nouvelle (New City) are located and the wider area.
It represents the most imperial of Moroccan cities. Fruit of the mixture of several civilizations, Fez inherited Arab nobility, Andalusian refinement, Jewish mastery and Berber perseverance .
Everything contributes to the permanent fascination for the visitor, as its authenticity has been maintained for more than 1,200 years .
The best way to discover the art of Fasí is to spend at least one night in the heart of the city in a beautiful Riad. Traditional exquisiteness combined with modern comforts and warm, family-like attentions will immerse you in the history of the city.
Their craftsmanship shows the love for work in each piece, the result of centuries of experience. Glazed ceramics have been worked since the 11th century with its famous cobalt blue as the city’s seal. A secret recipe with various ingredients and proportions to achieve this beautiful and exotic color that is kept under lock and key by local artisans.
Embroidery with the Fez stitch is an art exclusive to the area, the difficulty of which is to achieve the same design on both sides of the fabric. Practically magical and unusual – “Pure Art” .
Discover the capital of Islam
The Medina of Fez El Bali
It is the largest pedestrian zone in the world and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. It has labyrinthine streets and is one of the largest medieval sites currently existing in the world . The gates and walls that surround it enhance its magnificence.
All Karaouine Mosque
This jewel owes its name to a neighborhood in the city that was inhabited by refugees from Kairouan, a Turkish city and the first Arab base in North Africa. Its founder was an Arab and Muslim woman of Tunisian origin named Fatima All Fihria, who built the entire architectural complex and turned it into the soul of the city .
Its initial origin was as a madrasa, being the first institution of higher education in the world and currently, it continues to operate as the University of Karawiyyin.
Of particular importance is the purpose of its construction, as it was conceived to contribute to the greater development of its community by investing in the education of young people . A very ambitious project in its aims and also generous in terms of the resources to carry it out. These were able to be started with the private funds of the All Sihri sisters, with Fatima at the head and the help of her sister Mariam.
After the misfortune of finding themselves orphaned by their father and siblings, they devoted their entire family fortune from years as important merchants to the construction of the initial madrasa.
In 859, Fatima founded the first University in the World and an educational center considered an important intellectual center of the Mediterranean today.
His sister Mariam also financially supported the construction of the All Andalus Mosque in Fez.
Without a doubt, great women who made history in their time and who endure to this day as an authentic temple of culture and wisdom .
Madrasa Bou Inania
Renovated in the 18th and 20th centuries, it is one of the best preserved in the Medina, a testament to the wealth of the ancient city of Fez.
Hand-carved walls with precision made of stucco and wood, geometric motifs made with tiles, are some of the works that can be appreciated.
Moulay Idris Mausoleum
Founder of Fez and king of Morocco between 807 and 828, he is the most venerated saint in the country by thousands of Muslims who come to the mausoleum to pay their respects. After the construction work was completed in 1824, it became the most sacred place in the Medina. The building is part of an architectural complex that includes other monuments such as the house of El Quitun, the Al-Asraf mosque and the house of Wudu.
The entire complex is known as Al-Haram ( meaning the forbidden ) and is where Muslims found asylum and shelter.
Fez is the oldest of the Imperial Cities , where ancient medieval trades survive, making it a cosmopolitan city with culture, life and ancestral traditions throughout its history. The tanners’ quarter stands out , settled near the river to take advantage of the water and treat the skins since the Middle Ages .
