|
The spiritual heart of Arabic Morocco. The city, one of
the oldest medieval cities in the world, is one of the
holiest in Islam. In fact, so precious is Fez's history,
architecture, and culture that the entire city has been
declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is, simply,
the soul of the Moroccan kingdom.
Fez was founded by Moulay Idriss, grandson of the
prophet Mohammed in the 9th century, as the capital of
his Islamic kingdom, and has served at various times as
the capital of the country, and the principal residence
of Morocco's kings.
As
important as its role in Morocco's national origins, for
more than a millennium Fez has been one of the lights of
knowledge, learning, culture and spirituality. Its
Kairyaoune University is argued to be the oldest in the
world, dating to 850 c.e., and was one of the places
responsible for keeping alive the light of ancient
knowledge during Europe's dark ages.
The medina of Fez, the largest in Morocco, houses some
60,000 residents, and is organized around trade. Fez is
known for the extraordinary quality of its imperial
crafts, such as fassi pottery, extraordinary leatherwork,
and incredible complex zellij tile mosaics.
In the end, Fez is
both sacred and mysterious, its spirit both
evocative and elusive, even to those that know her
well. |
