8.30 Breakfast
Then departure around 9.00 to Meknes
12.30 Lunch at Palais TERRAB restaurant
Guided visit of Sultan Moulay Ismail imperial city. City of immoderation, Meknes keeps the memory of the biggest builder of the Maghreb , Sultan Moulay Ismaël, who reigned 55 years (1672 - 1727) .This contemporary of Louis XIV made a grand capital.
Few hours are enough to discover this citadel corseted by monumental ramparts. We visit its attics (Heri Es Souani) where we find a series of enormous tanks for water supply, its stables (gigantic building consisted of 23 arched naves), the Dar Jamai museum for its collections of sculptures on wood and the square El Hedim, immense esplanade where trainers of monkey, cigarettes salesmen and curious onlookers of all kinds revolve.
In order to reach Fes , the road goes through Moulay Idriss, sacred city hung on the hillside and Volubilis located 27 km north of Meknès.
VOLUBILIS: is the most beautiful archeological site of Morocco . The important vestiges spread over a grand countryside of wheat hills. Abandoned by its inhabitants during the VIIIth century, this ancient Roman city kept its capitol, its forum, its basilica, its thermal baths and its villas decorated with luxurious mosaics.
Arrival at Fes ( 92 km away) towards the end of the day Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Batha 3* Day 03 : Fès
FES: imposes by the prestige of its well-read capital, a last image of the imperial city can be most beautiful, because Fes holds the knowledge of illuminations. Ibn Khaldoun, historian (1332-1406) gave this definition of it: "art creating luxury in a city where we take care of intellectual things ".
Its name comes from Fas, pickaxe in Arabic, that golden one used by Sultan Moulay Idriss to draw the limits of the city, in 789. It is the city of aesthetes and well-read men.
08:30: morning guided tour of Fes : El Bali, the Andalusia 's neighbourhood, the medersas, as well as the various craft neighbourhood: Zaouïa de Moulay Driss, Karaouiyne and souks.
Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Batha 3* |
