Fès (Morocco)

...me that the city of Fès was a must-visit. A BRIEF BACKGROUND Fès is Morocco's third largest city, and the oldest of the Moroccan imperial cities (the others being Marrakesh, Rabat and Meknes). Founded in 789, the city began to flourish, populated not only by local Muslims but also those from other parts of North Africa and the Middle East. A substantial Jewish community also made their way to Fès, and the Jewish quarter is still in existence today. ...
...(walled city sections) in Fès, Fès el Bali - we were told - is best explored, at first, with a local guide,who will ensure that you get used to the lack of road signs and the small, winding alleyways before leaving you to your own devices. After being very disappointed with the guide we'd been recommended (a different story altogether...) we opted to make our own way around the medina. If you've never been to Africa, as I hadn't, pre-Fès, not even ...

emmorticia 27.05.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Fès (Morocco)

it was by bus and it was sunset. Fez is a medieval walled city and the road approach goes to the main wall gates. Set in the desert with the sun setting behind it and thousands of the bird which roost in the ancient walls swirling and calling around the city, it was an amazing sight. And once you're inside, it gets even better. The ancient part of the town is the medina, the old Arab quarter, which is both compelling and utterly confusing - get a ...
...WILL get lost. The alleys are narrow and there's no such thing as a straight line in the entire city, what with people in arab clothes wandering around, frequently with donkeys, it looks almost biblical. Top buys here include carpets, but haggle like MAD and even then you're probably being ripped off - these guys are pros, so don't buy for an investment, buy what you like and then it'll be worth whatever you paid for it. Sometimes its worth trying ...

ImogenW 30.12.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Fès (Morocco)

FES. This is the oldest of the imperial cities in Morocco and its Medina is on of the highlights of a visit to this country. A bit like Casablanca, Fes is a city of contrasts, between the modern “nouvelle city”, and the poor shantytowns and slums. The old monuments are also under threat of falling apart, due to the lack of funds to preserve them. Fes El-bali is the old medina, with its winding small alleys. You will find the usual amount of touts ...

FRADUC 28.08.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Fès (Morocco)

a walk around the daunting old town, medina, is something which will stay with you for life. the thouands of alleys all interlocked and stuffed with people and animals. i would recommend walking around on your own for a bit, it is inevitable that you will get lost, then just before you begin to panic take up the offer from one of the guides and they will show you the way to the tannery and then out the gates for £1. it is likely that they will speak ...
...as five six seemed multilingual). the tannery is breathtaknig. i felt uneasy as all of the rich western tourists literaly peered dwn on the workers who earned pitence though. in terms of somewhere to stay we were in the most beautiful youth hostel which was in the main new town and set around a court yard, well worth searching out (Auberge de Jeunesse) the owner also helped us to organise a tour into the High Atlas mountains down to Marakesh ...

roseyd 12.06.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Fès (Morocco)