Medinas
If you pause for a moment in the medina, stepping out of the stream of shoppers, you can
watch Morocco’s very essence flash by. These ancient, crowded quarters – with winding lanes,
dead ends, riad hotels, piles of spices, traders, tea drinkers, and a sensory assault around
every corner – offer a strong dose of Morocco’s famous Maghrebi mystique.
Fez The planet’s largest living Islamic medieval city and its biggest car-free urban environment,
with donkeys trekking to tanneries in the leather district (Click here )
Marrakesh Exuberant Marrakshis course between souqs, palaces and the Djemaa el-Fna
within the medina’s 19km of ramparts (Click here )
Tangier Hop off the ferry for a fitting introduction to North Africa in this gem of a medina,
contained by the walls of a 15th-century Portuguese fortress (Click here )
Mellow mazes Medinas aren’t always like diving from the top board; smaller, stylish examples
include Andalusian-blue Chefchaouen (Click here )
Craft & Culture
Whether you want to catch some Gnaoua (bluesy music developed by freed slaves), see the
Maghreb’s hottest contemporary art or forever transform your mantel with quality craftwork,
Morocco will inundate you with options.
Taroudannt Pick up Chleuh silver jewellery, influenced by Saharan tribes and Jewish
silversmiths, in the souqs (Click here )
Fès Festival of World Sacred Music In June, Morocco’s premier music festival features
international names and intimate concerts by tariqas (Sufi orders; Click here )
Marrakesh Shop beyond the souqs, alongside design fanatics in Quartier Industriel Sidi
Ghanem, and collectors including the king in Guèliz’ hip art galleries (Click here )
Carpets Compared with the cities, towns like Ouarzazate and Tafraoute have cooperatives,
ensembles and shops that are low-pressure spots to bag a tasselled souvenir (Click here )
Tangier The American Legation Museum contains the ‘Moroccan Mona Lisa’ and a wing
devoted to Paul Bowles, Burroughs and the Beat writers’ associate in Tangier (Click here )
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