Fez is Morocco’s first imperial city, having been founded in the 9th century AD as Arab power stretched out towards the west. It is believed that at one point during the 12th century it was the largest city in the world.

Once Morocco’s capital, Fez can be divided into three main parts: Fes el-Bali (‘Fez the old’), the celebrated ancient medina (or medieval city), Fes el-Jdid (‘Fez the new’), and the Ville Nouvelle (also meaning ‘new town’, this time from the French colonial era). Fes, incidentally, is the normal French spelling whereas in English we generally know it as Fez.

The medina is a delight to explore; thought to be the largest car-free urban area worldwide, it contains many of the city’s finest sights. It is home to the Karaouine Mosque and University, one of the oldest learning institutions in the world, dating back to a time when Arabic learning was the most advanced in the world. The Nejjarine Museum .............READ MORE ABOUT FEZ