Fès Medina (Fès el Bali)

Founded shortly after the Arabs first entered North Africa in the eighth century AD, Fès is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities. Its medina, the ancient quarter or the old city, is also the largest medina in Morocco, an enchanting, winding, medieval maze of mosques, food markets and covered bazaars filled with crafts, such as metalwork objects and rugs. The Souk Dabbaghin houses the tanneries where leather has been dyed for hundreds of years. Today, this traditional craft is still practised and visitors can see the huge vats of dye and the coloured leather that is laid out to dry in the sun. The medina is also home to the Al-Qarawiyin Theological University, founded in AD 857, which is the oldest university in the western world. The Medersa Bou Inania was founded in 1350 as a rival to the Al-Qarawiyin University and is a splendid example of Andalusian architecture.