Fez, Imperial city in northern Morocco
Fez is a city in the Fez Prefecture in northern Morocco, situated between foothills of the Middle Atlas and the Rif mountain range. The city spreads across several hills, connecting a vast medieval old town with modern districts outside the historic walls.
Idris I founded the first settlements on both sides of a riverbed in the late eighth century, which later merged into a single city. In the twelfth century the Almohads fortified the city and expanded its walls, making Fez an important political and intellectual center of the region.
The University of Al Quaraouiyine, established in 859, continues to operate as an educational institution within the ancient walls of Fez.
Access to the old town is through several main gates that are easy to reach on foot, while vehicles can only enter certain peripheral areas. Visitors who want to navigate the narrow lanes should use a map or a local guide, as paths frequently branch and look similar.
In some workshops of the old town, craftspeople still work with tools and techniques passed down through generations within their families. The tannery uses natural dyes from plants and minerals that are prepared in large stone vats and give the leather its characteristic coloring.
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