IMPERIAL CITIES AND MIDDLE ATLAS

Getting your bearings

The plain of Saïss and Imperial cities of Fes (Fez) and Meknes are Morocco's heartland, and their history was for a long time also the country's history. protected from the Mediterranean by the Rif mountains and from the Sahara Desert by the Middle Atlas range, the fertile plain amply provided for the cities. Outside the grand urban centres the region's gentle natural attractions include the cedar woods near Azrou, picutresque landscapes, romantic lakes and the splendid cascades d'ouzoud.

the highlight of the Middle Atlas is undoubtedly Fes, the country's ancient political and administrative capital, and still its religious and intellectual centre. The city's medina-a Unesco World Heritage Site- has a wealth of medieval monuments, some of them outstanding jewels of Islamic architecture. Its peopel, the Fassi- a mixture of Andalucian. Tunisian and Berber- have always had and independent identity and are often intellectuals and political leaders.

In the 17th century Moulay Ismail turned his back on Fes and moved the capital to Meknes, but over the years his megalomaniac building projects have fallen into spectacular ruin.

The romans had already appreciated the area, and built Volubilis, the most important Roman ruins in Morocco. not far from Volubilis is the shrine of the Kingdom's most venerated Muslim saint, Moulay Idriss, the founder of Fes.

Imperial Cities in Five Days

A tour filled with urban pleasures, from marvellous Islamic architecture and gastronomic delights to busy medinas, rural attractions include the country's most evocative Roman ruins.

Day One

Morning

we start tour of Fes

by viewing the city from a height, such as the terrace near the Merenid tombs. drive you Bab Boujloud at the entrance to the medina, then walk to the Dar Batha Museum. Follow rue Talaa Kebira to the Medersa BouInania and continuing through the jewellers' souk to the Medersa Attarin. South of the Seffarine Medersa is the Dyers' souk and nearby the tanneries. Continue to the Andalous quarter.

have a lunch.

afternoon

go to Kairaouine Mosque and the Nejjarine, then stop for tea in the lovely café of the Nejjarine Museum. Stroll around the souks and return to Bab Boujloud.

Have a romantic dinner in the medina .

Day Two

Morning

travel to Meknes

for a stroll around the sights such as the Tomb of Moulay Ismail, Bab Mansour and Heri es souani. Have a lunch

Afternoon

bring you to the fascinating archaeological site of VOLUBILIS. To visit the Roman ruins. Then return to Meknes overnight

Day Three

Morning

drive you to Rabat (the capital of Morocco)

For a stroll through the medina, including the Kasbah des Oudaïas and the nearby Oudaïa Museum. Stop for a mint tea in Café Maure, in the Andalucian garden. then have a lunch .

Afternoon

Bring you to Bab er Rouah then continue downtown to the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V and the Hassan Mosque in time for daily changing of the guard at 5pm.

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