Founded in the 9th century and home to the oldest university in the world, Fes reached its height in the 14th centruries under Marinids, when it replaced Marrakesh as the capital of the kingdom of Morocco.
The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina where I was born - madrassas, foundouks - date from this period. The medina of Fes is indeed big! It's the largest and the oldest medieval in the world. The medina is huge like a maze and one should be accompanied by a guide, or so said my friends from Birmingham who are artists and like to do some painting work about Fes, its design, its people, its colours and its activities. My friends are totally right, even I was born here in the medina, I got lost many times when I used to go to the school because I tried to change the way that my father taught me...we were very hungry and I remember a small restaurant in a house in the heart of the medina in Al Asshabine At Haj Benkiran.
We had very nice fessi food: Vegetarian, chicken, kefta tajine, kebab magdour - it was delicious and the taste took me 40 years back...it's a magic place, nothing has been changed really. Narrow streets, toothless, grinning old men - a real adventure. I can see many English people who bought their beautiful houses and amazing riads and prefer to live here without stress with the local warm and friendly people in a real tolerance and multicultural atmosphere.
From the train station in the city centre of Fes, you take a red petit taxi and ask the driver to drop you in Jamii Palace Hotel that you have to visit also for its beauty and colourful design and you can ask there for a professional guide.
For any question or help please feel free to drop me an email from the website www.myasilah.com or call me on my mobile 00447951478813. I will be only too happy to help.
Luxury stunning apartments with swimming pool, lift, security and parking. Located in a very nice and quiet place just two minutes' walk from the long golden beach.
All the shops and the old medina are just five minutes' walk from the self-catering accommodation. The cook is available to cook nice Moroccan and Spanish meals that you cannot eat in the restaurants.
In the city centre of Asilah, 20 minutes from Tangier Airport.
Alhamra Residence opposite to Maroc Telecom. Nearest train station: Asilah
www.myasilah.com
phone: 00212544547
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
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Responsible traveller, tours operator in Morocco, cooking holiday and languages, investor and business developer in tourism and property in Morocco, social entrepreneur supporting the local community living in isolated areas to fight against poverty and living environmentally friendly.has posted 2 tips
last submitted a tip on 8 January 2008
first submitted a tip on 8 December 2007
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