Morocco is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful travel destinations around the globe, a very attractive country, and unique by its multicultural origin that harmoniously combines Amazigh, Arab and African culture.
With a great succession of several Arab-Muslim dynasties, Morocco has 4 imperial cities (old capitals of historic empires): Rabat, Marrakech, Fez and Meknes, which have been classified in the UNESCO world heritage list.
In each Moroccan imperial city, you will find almost the same valuable heritage: prestigious arab-moorish palaces, world-famous mosques, Koranic Medrasas that date back several centuries, and impressive old Medina with very pretty old houses, small alleys and handicraft Souks.
These four Morocco’s imperial cities reflect perfectly the elegance of the antique Moroccan life style, the fascinating architecture, the beautiful colors and the sounds of a history that refuses to be forgotten.
Rabat: The capital of the Kingdom
Located at few kilometers from the Grand Casablanca, Rabat is the capital of Morocco and the heart of administrative organisations of national government.
You may need a whole day to visit the most important and emblematic places in Rabat, especially the old Medina.
You can start your City Tour by visiting La Kasbah des Oudayas, a very famous citadel with charming narrow streets, blue and white traditional houses and extremely beautiful Andalusian Gardens.
From the Kasbah Gardens, you can walk about 10 minutes to get to the old Medina, where you will be really surprised by every single detail of your tour, from the nice-looking old Medina houses to the beautiful craft shops and bazaars placed right and left.
You will be also interested by discovering the historic side of the city, that’s why you should hire a tour guide to visit the famous Hassan II Tower, the Mausoleum of the king Mohammed V, and the historical old mosques and churches.
Marrakech: The City of the Seven Saints
Marrakech is obviously the most famous and popular city in Morocco, you can not visit this beautiful country without spending some unforgettable days in Marrakech.
Marrakech is ideally located between the majestic Atlas Mountains and the big Sahara Desert, and this what makes the ochre city, the perfect starting point to explore the most beautiful destinations in the country, especially the fascinating Sahara Desert.
To get the most of your city tour in Marrakech, and to explore all the beautiful places hidden behind the walls of the old Medina, you will need at least two or tree days… Marrakech was always the cultural heart of the kingdom, and every little corner in this city has a long story
If ever you want to visit this beautiful town, in the best possible way, you should start your Marrakech city tour from the old Medina, more precisely from Jamaa el Fna square, because it’s the main centre that links all the places of the medina.
To start by the most important historic sites, you should see the famous Koutoubia mosque (11th century), Bahia Palace (19th century), Badia Palace and the Saadian Tombs (16th century), then you can walk through the labyrinths of the old Medina to visit some art museums, traditional guest houses and the big Souk of Moroccan Handicrafts.
After visiting the Medina, it’s time to explore some unmissable outdoor spaces such as the exotic Majorelle Gardens, the famous public gardens of Menara, the new modern town called ‘Gueliz’ and if you have enough time, maybe you can also have a short visit to the beautiful Palmeraie gardens.
Fez: The religious old capital
When we talk about Fez, the first thing we mean is Fez el Bali or the old Medina, a historic town listed in UNESCO world heritage sites, where each quarter, each house and each alley has its own story which goes back several centuries.
There are plenty of beautiful and amazing places in Fez that you need to see during your visit, like Bab Boujeloud or the famous Blue Gate, the old Koranic Schools named also ‘Medrasa’, Nejjarine School of Wood Arts, the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, the Medina Souks, and of course the famous Al-Karaouine mosque, the first university established in the world and the oldest ever.
Fez is also famous for one additional thing above all, the four traditional tanneries of the old city, an exceptional sight where you can watch the tanners dropping the leather into the pits filled with dyes of different colours.
During your Fez city tour, you can take a break to climb the rooftop of a restaurant-café to enjoy some impressive panoramic views of the whole city and to get a real sense of the old Fez with its elegant and stylish Islamic architecture.
Meknes: The undiscovered Moroccan city
Located at only 65 kilometers from Fez, Meknes is the most quite and authentic city, but less touristy than other imperial cities.
Meknes was founded during the 10th century by a Berber tribe known under the name of ”Meknassa”, and late in the 17th century, the Alaouite Sultan ‘Moulay Ismail’ will choose this beautiful city as a capital of his empire.
Meknes is the fourth Morocco’s imperial city and the fifth-largest in the country, that well worth a guided visit to explore the charm and the originality of Morocco.
During your city tour in Meknes, you should not miss to visit place el Hedim, a large square at the entrance of the Medina, then you will absolutely appreciate the majestic gate of Bab el Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, Koubba el Khayatine or the Ambassador’s Hall, where sultan Moulay Ismail was used to receive guests and foreign ambassadors, without forgetting Menes Volubilis, an extraordinary antique Roman city built on the former site of a Punic-Berber city.
This wonderful and very attractive city of Meknes, will put the last touch to this amazing travel experience, widely rated as one of the most Great Tours of Morocco.
