Exotic Morocco Classic Imperial Cities

Once you land at the Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, your guide will meet you at your arrival gate to take you immediately to check-in to your hotel in Rabat. This is a beautiful short drive of about 45 miles through the lush farms and exotic plants. She guided a historical and cultural tour of the capital city. You will reach Rabat, a city styled in a spaciously elegant European grid, yet slightly aware of its modernity. Only a riverbut separates Rabat, and its twin city Sala Colonia are historically worlds apart. They have an ancient legacy that spans hundreds of generations. Each civilization that has inhabited each city has left its mark, resulting in a wide variety of architectural styles, including those from the Phoenician and Roman eras. You will spend your afternoon discovering the delights that Rabat has to offer. Your guide will take you on a historic and lively city tour, starting in the old city Sidi Makhloufquarter; the 12-century ramparts are best seen from this landmark. Walk up to BabChellah in the medina and cross Sidi Fateh St. This will lead you to the traditional SoukLaghzel (Yarn market). Your guide will introduce you to the importance of this guild that makes Rabat unique in standard handmade textiles production, especially RabatCarpets. Please proceed with your historic visit of Rabat to the citadel of the Oudaya Kasbah, entering from its 12th-century main gate to explore an extraordinary Medieval Moorish marvel overlooking the delta of the Bourgreg River. You will have the opportunity to visit the old-fashioned Moorish Gardens, stop in a traditional coffee house for mint tea, and, in between, explore the Oudaya Museum of tribal arts and Crafts. A docent will introduce you to conventional Berber Textiles. Your guide will take you exiting the Oudaya Kasbah and up the hill to visit the Hassan Tower and Mohamed the V Mausoleum, an emblem of authentic Moroccan architecture at its finest. You will reach the Royal Palace and the Necropolis of Chellah at the end of your tour. In the future, you will return to the hotel for dinner and other accommodations.

Today is an excursion for the early History of Morocco, a day of time travel! This journey will take you from imperial Rome to the ninth century A.D. Unlike the movies, this temporal voyage will take almost the entire day at a gentle pace. (Of course, there will be stops along the way in notable places.) The first stop will be the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Volubilis was a critical city in the imperial Roman department of Mauritania (modern-day Morocco and Western Sahara) during the reign of Caracalla. Volubilis is impressively well preserved, and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact. The two central integral streets in every Roman castrum, the Cardo and Decumanus, are prominent. The Cardo is the north-south boulevard, and the Decumanus is east-west. The intersection of the two is the heart of every Roman city. There you will find the ruins of the old forum. On the other side of the hill, just a few minutes away, you will visit with your guide the venerated citadel of Moulay Idris, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idriss, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s). This citadel is considered the cradle of Sufism in Moroccan society and the first Islamic capital of the premier Arab dynasty. The city was created primarily for the indigenous population that migrated with Moulay Idris from the Middle East. You will drive around 15 miles to the next stop, the imperial city of Meknes. A guided historical tour of Meknes is yours. Meknes is a 17 th Century city built by Moulay Ismail to rival Fez. It is also considered to be the Versailles of Morocco. Congratulation, you have reached your final destination of the day, the ninth-century city of Fez. In the evening, your guide will get a taste of the greatest of the Imperial Cities. You will visit the sights outside Medina, an ancient walled city, including the ramparts, the gates, and the Borjs (Moorish Forts). After this introductory visit aperitif toFez, you will dine in your hotel and prepare for day three: Fez!

A full day will be devoted to your historic walking tour of the Medina of Fez. Undeniably fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside its walls. Fez owes nothing to the modern world, save electricity. Fez is not only the heartbeat of Morocco but a world heritage of humanity. Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of Fez, starting at the King's Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates. Then, we will drive to Merinides Hill to visit their necropolis. Here you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the old walled Medina, brimful with countless minarets to call for prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter an ancient world. Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle can be used as a tool of transportation. Only donkeys, mules, and horses can help move all the city produces and needs as supplies. The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribe members who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably, carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square with its various activities. From there, you will wind your way to the Sgha square, which will lead you to Attarinethen Souk el Henna and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine Square with its famous fountain, its Guild of Carpentry, and the Museum of folk arts at the Fondouk. You will walk to the tannery and visit the Great Mosque University of AlQuarrawiyyine, passing by Shemmaine, the dried fruit market. After that, you will see the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of bookbinders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passersby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch and then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, FoundoukTetouani, and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani. You will end your walking tour and retreat to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations. Cultural, historical, and Spiritual Walking Day Tour of the 9th-century Medina of Fez.