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If
Fez is the spiritual heart of Arabic Morocco, then
Meknes, her smaller twin, located a short distance to
the west, is a center of Berber culture and learning.
Like Fez, Meknes has also served as the capital of
Morocco during a later point in the long dynastic
struggles of its Arabic and Berber leaders.
Meknes
occupies a plateau overlooking the Boufekrane River, and
is less trafficked than Fez, giving the city a more laid-back
and relaxed air.
The
sights of Meknes are extraordinary in their own right.
More
than 40 kilometers of walls, each more than 12
feet thick, encircle the city in three giant, concentric
rings. Set in the walls are exquisite gates, including
the Bab Mansour, widely considered to be the most
beautiful gate in all of North Africa. One of the four
sacred sites open to non-Muslims, the Mausoleaum of
Moulay Ismail (the founder of Meknes) is located here,
one of the most stunning sights in Morocco.
Hotels in Meknes |
