In a nutshell, Fez is worth visiting if you're into history, culture, medieval Arab architecture, and delicious Moroccan food. Fez offers a unique experience for tourists willing to embark on a journey back in time. With its old medina and narrow alleys, this city gives you the impression of walking in a medieval Arab city. Fez is also the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. So, if you're interested in learning about Moroccan culture, Fez should be your first destination in Morocco.
Fez has the infrastructure to host tourists. Since it's a major tourist city, Fez is equipped with hotels, motels, and other accommodations to offer tourists a comfortable experience. Riads are also available in Fez, and we recommend booking a stay at one of them for their beautiful interiors and relaxed atmosphere. In addition to accommodations, there are many travel agencies that offer various tours, from cultural tours to food tours.
This city is also home to vibrant souks, squares, and concerts. You'll be able to find high-quality handmade leather products, rugs, and other artisanal artifacts to take back home. At night, you'll get the chance to attend cultural musical events and enjoy Moroccan and international classical music while enjoying warm summer breeze.
Let's dive in for more details on why Fez is worth visiting.
Fez Has Great Moroccan Food
Almost in all Moroccan cities, you'll find some delicious Moroccan food to try, but Fez is special. Fez people have different cooking styles and a keen understanding of how spices and flavors should blend. You'll notice this while walking through the old medina, where you can find some flavorful pastries to taste.
Pastries are not the main food in Fez. The city is known for a dish called "pastilla," a crispy pie filled with chicken, red meat, or fish. Pastilla is usually served at ceremonies like weddings, but it's also offered to guests and tourists. You should definitely try pastilla in Fez, followed by some sweet pastries at the end of your meal.
In Fez, tajines are also available, along with other Moroccan dishes. You may find that each region in Morocco has unique additions to their tajines. In Fez, tajines have a similar taste to those in other regions but with an extra crispy touch of roasted nuts. If you're willing to mix things up a little, there are some unusual options to try, like smoked sheep's head meat.
Shopping for food ingredients in Fez is another food related activity that you can do. Bazars are everywhere and you'll be able to find high quality spices and herbs to shop for your meals at home. Another fun activity would be to join a cooking workshop with a local cook to learn how to make different Moroccan food.
Note: Nuts are widely used in Fez. If you're allergic to them, please let your host know so they can make nuts-free dishes for you.
Fez Morocco Hosts Good Events
Fez offers you the opportunity to attend relaxing musical events. Summer nights are especially magical in Fez, with a blend of international and Moroccan cultural music. The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is a great event to experience this and escape your stressful routine.
The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is usually held in June and attracts artists from all around the globe to celebrate diverse spiritual and cultural traditions through music. What makes the experience even better is the combination of music and the stunning historic venues in Fez where the festival is held.
In Fez, you'll also have the opportunity to discover Sufi music, a relaxing genre of ancient spiritual and mystical music. The Festival of Sufi Culture is a great event to attend if you're interested in such arts. This festival is held in April and features many shows besides music, such as poetry readings and Sufi dancing.
We recommend attending the two previously mentioned festivals. However, there are other events to discover Moroccan culture, especially the Amazigh (Berber) culture. The Fes Festival of Amazigh Culture is one of them. It hosts musical shows and sometimes plays that showcase the historical heritage of the Amazigh culture and their contribution to the Moroccan culture as a whole.
Fez Has Quality Lether And Souks
Fez is known for its high-quality leather artifacts, which can be found in the souks. The way these artifacts are made hasn't changed for centuries. You can witness the first phases of leather processing in Fez at the Chouara Tannery, which is the oldest and most famous tannery in the city. This tannery dates back to the 11th century and is still a vital part of Fez's economy due to its capacity to produce high-quality and traditionally processed leather.
Leather is processed naturally in Fez. The tanning process relies on natural ingredients that have been used since ancient times. Some ingredients involved in this process might sound bizarre, but they have proven effective in maintaining the quality of the leather and even improving it. For example, many tanners use pigeon droppings, salt, and cow urine. In Chouara Tannery, you'll see tanners soaking hides in water containing these ingredients before dyeing them in large stone vats.
By the way, The Chouara Tannery is indeed a visually stunning and culturally rich site, but the smell there can be quite strong and unpleasant due to those natural ingredients used in the tanning process.
Fez lether products are available in the city's souk. Fez overall offer a great shopping experience with its vibrant souks. Wether you're looking for food ingredients, rugs, lether jackets or any other artisanal artifact, Fez has it all. Of course, you'll have to bargain for a fair price for each item, but the quality of the goods in Fez souks worth the hussle. For a better experience shopping in Fez, you can hire a guide to bargain for you.
While you're here, check out our partner "Rug Source" website for Moroccan rugs in the U.S.
Here you go! This is Fez and all the fun it offers. This city is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have a passion for history or a desire to discover Moroccan culture. Be sure to taste the delicious Pastilla and a variety of local pastries while you're there. If you're interested in attending cultural events, check the dates in advance. Most festivals in Fez take place during the summer, but you can still find events happening in the spring.
Feel free to use the comments section below for any questions or suggestions—we'll be thrilled to provide you with answers.
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