Al-Attarine Madrasa, 14th-century Islamic school near Souk al-Attarine spice market in Fez, Morocco.
Al-Attarine Madrasa is a 14th-century school arranged around a central courtyard where students lived and studied. Its interior features intricate geometric wall patterns, hand-carved wooden ceilings, and colorful tilework in the courtyard spaces.
The building was commissioned between 1323 and 1325 by Sultan Abu Said Osman II to serve as a center for religious education. This foundation was part of a broader effort to advance learning in theology and various sciences in Fez.
The name reflects the adjacent spice market, where students and scholars moved daily between their studies and the bustling trade route. This connection to commerce remains visible in how the building sits within the crowded medina.
The madrasa sits in a crowded medina area, so access involves navigating narrow lanes and tight spaces. Comfortable shoes and patience with close quarters are essential for exploring this intimate setting.
The prayer niche is positioned perpendicular to the courtyard rather than facing inward, an adaptation to the tight layout. This unconventional placement reveals how builders solved the puzzle of fitting religious requirements into limited urban space.
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