Seffarin Madrasa, 13th-century madrasa in the Medina of Fez, Morocco.
Seffarin Madrasa is a 13th-century educational building in the Medina of Fez with a rectangular courtyard and a central water basin. The court is surrounded by student quarters decorated with intricate stucco work on all surfaces.
The building was founded in 1271 by Marinid Sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf and served as the first educational institution built by the Marinid dynasty in Morocco. It marked the beginning of an ambitious program to support learning in the region.
The walls display Quranic inscriptions and geometric patterns that reflect traditional Moroccan Islamic artistry and craftsmanship. Visitors can observe these artistic forms in the ornamental details throughout the structure.
The building sits on Seffarine Square next to the Quaraouiyine Mosque in a district where copper craftspeople continue traditional metalwork. The courtyard and surrounding areas are accessible during daylight hours for exploration.
A small brick minaret stands at the entrance, with the prayer hall oriented differently from the courtyard around it. This unusual layout shows how builders managed religious requirements within the constraints of a tight urban space.
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