Morocco is one of the most fascinating African countries we've ever been to. There is so much to see there that it is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination every year. Travellers often combine it with a trip to Spain because the two countries are separated only by the Strait of Gibraltar. My husband and I spent a week in Morocco exploring some of its attractions. These are some of the highlights of Morocco that we visited.
Entering the dusty medina of Fez-el-Bali (old Fez, Morocco) is like walking into The Middle Ages. Built in the 8th century and now one of the oldest surviving medieval cities in the world, Fez is nestled in the foothills of the North Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco. The old city is made up of a confounding labyrinth of cobblestone alleyways, designed to keep out strangers who could easily get lost. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s largest car-free areas.
However you would be well-warned to keep your wits about you and your eyes open, or your behind may get nuzzled by a horse or mule. You may turn a corner and run into a laden donkey or a jangling bicycle or get pursued by a persistent peddler or two. Empathise with the mangy stray dogs and cats who rummage in the rubble for something to eat, although, very nearby there is an animal hospital, especially for them, started by an American artist called Barbara Hutton.
Market
People still live here - in discreet centuries-old houses. You may see inhabitants standing inside the little box windows covered with painted wooden shutters from which their predecessors used to throw hot oil on potential intruders. As you can see, they were really not keen on visitors but you can’t blame them as the visitors of old were out to murder their leader and city founder, Moulay Idriss. His mausoleum is now located in the mosque of the old city.
I felt like Alice in Wonderland. There are madrasas, fancy foundouks (boutique hotels), old palaces, houses and mosques. Interspersed between these are quaint little shops. Look into each one - you don't know what you may find - a treasure trove of olive shops, sweet shops, trinket shops and many others. There are workshops where skilled artisans still use the ancient techniques of making cotton, silk, leather and shoes. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker were all there, and so was the metalworker chiselling decorative metal plates. I looked for the fezmaker, just to buy a fez that I could say was bought from Fez…and found it.
The obligatory carpet demonstrations, sweetened by the offer of Arab mint tea offered an air-conditioned respite from the oppressive heat of the city for a change. It was followed by a visit to the oldest leather tannery in the world where we were given sprigs of mint to counteract the stench caused by the pigeon poo which is used to soften the leather. The tannery is at least nine centuries old.
A delicious lunch was served at a Moroccan restaurant where we all sat around the table. Everyone sampled the starter offerings but ordered their own main courses. Tagines and couscous were most popular and so was the Moroccan mint tea served thereafter. There was lots of laughter and sharing of experiences with new friends from Uruguay, Portugal, Mexico and Chicago ..but that, I guess, is one of the joys of travelling.
University of Al-Karaouine
This is the oldest known university in the world. It was started by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri, in the year 859. She came from a wealthy family of merchants and used her inheritance to fund the construction of a mosque and a madrasa (Islamic school) for her community, which quickly became a center of learning and worship. The university's library is considered to be one of the oldest and most important in the world, with over 4,000 manuscripts.
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Africa and the 10th largest mosque in the world. It also has the world’s second tallest minaret. The mosque is perched on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with part of the mosque on land and the rest over the sea. There is a laser directed towards Mecca at the top of the minaret. Inside the mosque there is a prayer hall, a library, a museum and a conference center.
Volubilis was founded in the 3rd century B.C. It was once an important outpost of the ancient Roman empire. Now, it is the site of the most important Roman ruins in Morocco. It is situated near Meknes between Fes and Rabat. The Archaeological Site of Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage site, listed for being "an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire". We were amazed at how well preserved the ruins were. They were mostly intact until they were destroyed by an earthquake in the mid-18th century then looted by Moroccan rulers looking for stone to build Meknes.
We visited Volubilis while travelling from Rabat to Fes. It offered a fascinating peek into the ancient Roman lives but the heat was unbearable. Oh, and we also met some fellow South Africans there with whom we shared our Moroccan experiences thus far.
Royal Stables in Meknes
The Royal Stables in Meknes, Morocco were one of the most fascinating structures I've ever seen. They were built during the rule of Moulay Ismail (born 1645 and died 1727). They used to house twelve thousand horses and their attendants, a groom and a slave for each one.
Standing in the partially ruined stables, listening to the intriguing stories of what took place there, I didn't even have to close my eyes to imagine I was there too.
See my 7-day Morocco itinerary.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 49 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
