|
Fez
and Area Attractions
Photos
and item by Karen Hoffman
 As
the Kingdom's original capital (808 AD), Fez is
known as "the most imperial city of them all. "
Within an hour's drive are three major historic
centers and tourism destinations, each one a jewel
in the country's radiant crown. Fès is
surrounded by lakes, the Atlas Mountains, small
cities like Ifrane and Axrou, full cedars, and
other rare places. The Morocco National Tourist
Office will sponsor a full day tour for all ATA
delegates to Meknes, an Imperial City famous for
its Bab Mansour gate, the Royal Palace of Dar el
Makhzen and the ruins of Dar el Kebira, with two
ornate mosques and over 20
pavilions
Photo
(right): Fez is famous for its sheep skin Tanneries
and leather crafts. A leather shop's terrace
rooftop in the Tanneries Quarter of the Medina
offers a fascinating view of the enormous dye pits.
Every few days the colors are
changed.
Other adjacent
sites are the Dar el-Ma water tower and Moulay
Ismail Mausoleum. Meknes is noted for its
picturesque and exotic souks (markets) with
colorful food displays, wood carvers, coppersmiths,
potters, tanners, weavers and dyers, all offering
their various arts and crafts. Moulay Idriss, with
its green-tiled minaret of the Khiber Medersa
(Koranic school)
standing guard on the hillside, is another
attraction to rave
about.
 ..
|
|
|
Volubilis .
Close to
Meknes is Volubilis, the most important Roman ruins
in all of Morocco.
In 1997, this rich legacy won Volubis the
classification "World Heritage Site "
Host Day Tour
at the ATA Symposium will include a visit to this
famed Roman archaeological site
and former capital of the Mauritanian
Kingdom
|
|
