Morocco: The imperial cities
The visit of the imperial cities is a classic of the trip to Morocco. The palaces and alleys of Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes and Fez await you. To visit the medinas of these cities is to dive into the history of Morocco. To you the museums or the souks … according to your mood! Without forgetting the richness and variety of Moroccan gastronomy, it is expressed simply on the terrace of cafes or with panache in the great restaurants. It is strongly recommended to use a professional guide to better appreciate the beauty and interest of tourist sites. Do not hesitate to ask us to organize your visit to the imperial cities.
FES, SMALL PEARL OF THE ARAB WORLD
Small pearl of the Arab world, Fez is the cultural capital of Morocco. Located north of the country, between the sea and the Middle Atlas, this city-museum of the eighth century is the oldest of the four imperial cities. Inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1981, the city of Fez shines through its Koranic university and the treasures of its Arab-Andalusian art. Its talented craftsmen make it the guardian of Moroccan heritage traditions.
The city is home to two medinas: Fez El-Bali (“Fez the old”), and Fez El-Jedid (“Fez the new”) founded by the Merinids 500 years later. In a colorful medieval decor, you will be seduced by so much animation: for their richness and diversity, the souks of Fez are unforgettable!
Important !! the medina of Fez is forbidden to cars and two-wheelers! It is reserved for pedestrians and mules. Plan good shoes because the streets are sloping, so heels not recommended …
MARRAKECH, THE RED CITY
Prestigious imperial city and link between the Atlas and the Sahara, Marrakech is home to a colossal cultural heritage. Nowhere are the palaces more beautiful, the gardens more luxuriant and the souks livelier. Sheltered behind powerful orange ramparts, the medina contains the remains of its history, from the Almoravid era to the reign of the Saadians. Small red pearl of Morocco, it is said that a life would not be enough to exhaust the charms.
MEKNES, “THE PRINCESS OF OLIVE TREES”
Discover Meknes 65 km from Fez, and wake up the legends of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, who decided to make a sumptuous capital in the seventeenth century. Meknes is the youngest of the four imperial cities, but her beauty rivals that of her sisters (UNESCO classification). Located between the coastal plains and the massifs of the Atlas, the Ismaili city occupies a place of commercial and cultural crossroads since antiquity.
The Medina of Meknes dates back to the 9th century, where you will find the most authentic souks and local craft shops in the city. Around the medina unfolds the kasbah, an enormous royal city which shelters behind its powerful ramparts the most prestigious monuments of the city. Penetrating into the city by one of its magisterial doors, the traveler discovers the unfinished dream of the Sultan.
RABAT, MODERN CAPITAL AND HISTORIC CITY
Often neglected in favor of Marrakech and Fez, Rabat is a city yet pleasant to visit. Installed facing the ocean and bounded on the west by the Bouregreg which separates it from Salé, the capital of Morocco is more peaceful and sweeter than Casablanca, just an hour away. Smaller too, it is easily explored on foot.
You want to visit Rabat? Between its fabulous sites full of history, its museums, its riads and its world famous festival, you will not be bored. Let’s go to the discovery of Rabat!
