Place Seffarine, Metal craftsmen square in Old Medina, Fez, Morocco
Place Seffarine is a square in Fez's old quarter where metalworkers operate in open-air workshops, shaping and finishing copper vessels and decorative pieces. The space connects important religious buildings and serves as both a working area and a passage through the neighborhood.
The square took shape during the medieval period as a hub for metal crafts near the Qarawiyyin religious complex. Construction of the Saffarin Madrasa in 1271 established one of Morocco's first dedicated learning institutions for Islamic studies in the same area.
Metalworkers here display their craft openly, and the continuous work shapes how locals and visitors experience the square's daily rhythm. The practice connects people to generations of artisans who have occupied this same space with their tools and materials.
Access to this square is straightforward from several directions through the surrounding narrow lanes of the old medina. The space remains active during daylight hours when craftspeople are working, and sturdy walking shoes help on the uneven ground.
The constant rhythmic sound of hammers striking copper fills the square throughout the working day, creating an unmistakable soundscape. This acoustic signature has defined the place for centuries and immediately signals to visitors that they have entered a working craft space.
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