Morocco Discovery: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez & Meknes

About the destination: Situated on the Atlantic coast, Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and economic center. Casablanca is a contemporary city with bustling boulevards and numerous street cafes, giving it a distinctly European ambiance. The city is a fusion of tradition and modernity, with traditional buildings influenced by Moorish, Roman, Jewish, Spanish, and French styles standing alongside modern skyscrapers. Despite being relatively modern by Moroccan standards, the city boasts numerous historical sites and striking white colonial architecture. The city's oldest section, the medina, is smaller compared to other medinas in Morocco, but it's still worth exploring its narrow lanes. Near the Medina, you'll find the City Hall, renowned for its beautifully carved roofs. The King Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca's main attraction, is situated in a stunning location on the Atlantic Coast. It's the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest in the world, boasting the world's tallest minaret. A visit to Casablanca is a must for many travelers to Morocco. With its blend of Oriental and modern influences, Casablanca is a city of many facets.

About the destination: Rabat, despite being Morocco’s political and administrative capital, is not a typical tourist destination. However, to truly experience the essence of Morocco, visiting this imperial city is essential. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, Rabat is a place where tradition and modernity coexist harmoniously. Often considered dull compared to its larger coastal neighbor, Rabat has embraced modernity and is developing its own cosmopolitan atmosphere. The truth is, the capital is more relaxed, pleasant, and provincial than Casablanca, yet far less chaotic and hectic. Rabat boasts a long and rich history, influenced by Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians, French, and Arabic cultures, with numerous monuments to showcase this heritage. Its Old Town, the serene medina, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2012. Behind its red ochre walls, the Old City keeps the country’s traditions alive, featuring many Moroccan craft shops and traditional tea houses. The fortified gates, colorful magical white and blue walls, and spectacular ocean views provide ample reason to explore every inch of its streets. The beautiful enclosed Chellah, a peaceful complex of tombs and Roman ruins, is located in Rabat’s urban twin, Salé, just 2 km from the city center. Along Mohamed V Avenue, lined with palm trees, visitors will find the Parliament, the Al Sunna Mosque, the Essais Garden, and the majestic Royal Palace. An independent art scene is flourishing in the capital, with a growing number of galleries and spaces for visual arts. After a long day enjoying the city’s rich cultural offerings, visitors should head to Agdal, Rabat’s trendiest district. Artists, hipsters, and students alike fill its cafes and restaurants. This modern coastal city, blessed with a Mediterranean climate, is lively, cheerful, and safe. Rabat means "refuge" in Arabic, and it may not be a coincidence, as this city offers visitors culture, stunning architecture, tradition, and modernity, all away from the all-inclusive crowds that fill other parts of the country.

About the destination: Fez is the epitome of enchantment, a pot of stunning allure that has been brewing since the Middle Ages. The city encompasses nearly all that Morocco has to offer; the echoing clangs of hammers on brass sheets, the cackles of chickens wandering freely, the constant chatter of endless conversations, the resonant prayers echoing from one minaret to another, young women balancing trays of rolled dough on their heads, throngs of people in the narrowest of streets, the tempting smells of brochettes on open grills, the sweet fragrance of cedar shavings and freshly cut mint leaves. The life-sized labyrinth that is the medina, or old city, is the largest and most challenging to navigate in Morocco; sometimes it's even easier to simply lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of the various markets. Entering the medina through Bab Boujeloud, immediately turn left onto the shop-lined, bamboo-shaded rue Talaa Kebira. To the left is the grain market, while further along is the entrance to Bou Inania Madrasa, the finest Qur’anic university in Morocco. Constructed under the Merinid Dynasty in the 14th century, its beautifully carved white plaster walls and mihrab remain in remarkably good condition. The Zaouia de Moulay Idriss houses the tomb of Molay Idriss II, who established Fez as the capital of Morocco in 808. The cedarwood portal is adorned with faded geometric patterns. Nearby is the 14th century Al-Attarine Madrasa. Behind the magnificent bronze door lie intricately carved plaster walls topped by a cedarwood mantle and a splendid fountain. Other notable places in Fez include the viewpoints to the north of the city or most parts of Fes el Jedid, with the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, and the Museum Dar al Batha. Once the capital of the country, today Fez is Morocco’s third largest city but is considered the country’s religious, cultural, and intellectual hub. Situated between the Riff and the Middle Atlas Mountains, the city consists of Fes El Bali, the old city, and Fes El Jedid, the new city. The King of Morocco’s wife, Princess Lalla Salma, was born in Fez, which has further increased the popularity of this medieval city.

About the destination: Situated on the Atlantic coast, Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and economic center. Casablanca is a contemporary city with bustling boulevards and numerous street cafes, giving it a distinctly European ambiance. The city is a fusion of tradition and modernity, with traditional buildings influenced by Moorish, Roman, Jewish, Spanish, and French styles standing alongside modern skyscrapers. Despite being relatively modern by Moroccan standards, the city boasts numerous historical sites and striking white colonial architecture. The city's oldest section, the medina, is smaller compared to other medinas in Morocco, but it's still worth exploring its narrow lanes. Near the Medina, you'll find the City Hall, renowned for its beautifully carved roofs. The King Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca's main attraction, is situated in a stunning location on the Atlantic Coast. It's the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest in the world, boasting the world's tallest minaret. A visit to Casablanca is a must for many travelers to Morocco. With its blend of Oriental and modern influences, Casablanca is a city of many facets.