A Sunday morning wander in the Fez medina
We started in Lihoudi, in the northeastern corner of the medina. As you might guess from the name, this was once a Jewish area where jewellers and goldsmiths plied their trade. Out of respect for local residents, the mosque was built without a minaret so the call to prayer would not sound out over this
Exhibitions at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech, 2019
If you’re heading to Marrakech in 2019, here are the temporary exhibitions planned at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. The award-winning museum houses a permanent collection of some 50 garments and accessories by Yves Saint Laurent alongside sketches, films, voices and music against a black background. The garments are rotated regularly to conserve them and
Morocco: read all about it!
Are you one of those people who loves to beef up on the history of the places you’re going to visit on your trip? Whether it’s the History section in a Lonely Planet guidebook or a deeper delve into the literature of the country, any insight you gain into your destination will pay off. You’ll
Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2019
Fes, at the confluence of cultures The dates for this year’s festival are 14-22 June 2019. You can find out about the Festival and arrange accommodation through our sister site, Fez Riads. Practicalities: For accommodation, see our sister site, Fez Riads. We have accommodation in beautiful traditional guesthouses in the medina at all price levels.
Shopping in the souks
Indulge your shopping habit in Morocco: it’s a feast for the senses Ceramics Fez is famous for its ceramics. Artfully painted in blue and green, plates, bowls, jugs, tagines and even bathroom basins can be found everywhere. Look out for the slightly greyer clay from Safi: the pure white is more fragile and will chip
Rabat – is it worth the trip?
A few years ago, CNN named Morocco’s capital, Rabat, as one of the top places to visit. Is the city worth a detour or more? Visitors to Morocco usually head for Marrakech, Essaouira or Fez and don’t even consider Rabat. It’s not a premier tourist destination, but perhaps that’s where it’s charm lies. There’s
Morocco in winter
December and January are good months to visit Morocco. It is a popular time of year, which means the souks and cities are filled with buzzing energy, but you can always seek out some quiet if you know where to look. Exploring the Sahara is perfect – while it’s cold at night, the days are
Visiting Morocco during Ramadan
Ramadan in 2019 starts on 5 May and ends around 4 June. We can’t be more precise because it depends on sighting the moon. So should you venture into Morocco during Ramadan? There’s no reason why not, and the insights you’ll gain into the people and culture will enhance your experience. What you need to
Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2019: what you need to know
I read about the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in 2000, and knew right away I just had to go. Something about the city of Fez appealed, though I had no idea what. The guiding principles of the Festival felt right, too: bringing harmony to a world torn apart by conflict. So it was
Chefchaouen
Take some dramatic mountain peaks, add a sprinkle of red-roofed houses chasing higgledy-piggedly down the mountainside, small houses with wrought-iron balconies and roof terraces with magnificent views. Now wash it all in an indigo-blue rinse and you have the delightfully laid-back town of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco. Originally built by Riffian tribesmen in 1471 as
