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Fez
The medieval capital of the country of Morocco, Fez or Fes El Bali, is a place of high Islamic civilization that can be seen and felt throughout the walled city.
Famous for the hats of the same name, which originated here, Fez is known the world over as one of the best-preserved cities in the Arab world. In fact, the labyrinthine stone medina (old center) of Fes el-Bali, is incidentally also the world's largest car-free urban zone.
A trip to Fez is not complete with an exploration of its medina (old city) market place that seems to have been untouched by modern times. With its complex passageways to invite comparison to a labyrinth, guests are invited follow the hustle and bustle of the market and its sight and sounds with the plentiful stalls of dried fruit, tanneries nearby and their leather goods, hawkers of colorful handmade ceramics, nearly wrung and dyed textiles and authentic local produce.
The architectural marvel of the Bou Inania medersa is a must-see in Fez, which is a breathtaking religious college from the 14th Century. This is a prime example of Islamic architecture that can seen in Fez. It gorgeous wooden walls are elaborately carved by artisans with geometric patterns and inlaid with painstaking Arabic calligraphy. There is also a beautiful minaret perched on the top of the building pointing to the sky. There is a portico in the courtyard whose mosque is still in use by locals to this day. The mosque is separated by the rest of the courtyard by a small moat.
From the hilltops looking over the old city of Fez, one is guaranteed a picturesque view that brings to mind a fairytale. The two fortresses overlooking the old city are the Borj Nord, an armaments museum and the Borj Sud, which is being developed for tourism.
