Exploring the city of Fes in Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
One of the places we visited during our stay in the city of Fes in Morocco was this building shown in today’s photos. I didn’t keep notes at the time, but I think it was an Islamic religious school. There were no students there at the time. If my memory is correct this was built many centuries ago and is now just on display for visitors, something of a museum. Whatever it is I found that the calm interior of the building an amazing contrast with the hustle and bustle of life in the medina or the street outside.
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
We visit the Borj Sud fortress in Fes, Morocco
Borj Sud, Fes, Morocco
During our visit to Fes in Morocco our tour bus took us up a prominent hill within the city. On this hill is the Borj Sud (South Tower), a prominent fortress overlooking the old city. This fortress was built in the 16th century to overlook and protect the city. It was built by Christian slaves.
We only had enough time here to walk around the perimeter of the fortress. It would have been interesting to look inside.
Borj Sud, Fes, Morocco
The streets of Fes, Morocco
Street scene in the city of Fes, Morocco
During our visit to Morocco we saw many beautiful buildings, usually decorated with magnificent mosaics. we also wandered through fascinating madinas with their closed in buildings and narrow streets and laneways. we saw ordinary street scenes too, like those in today’s photos, building which would not have been out of place in the inner streets of some Australian cities.
Street scene in the city of Fes, Morocco
Mosaics in Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco
Mosaic tiles in Volubilis in Morocco
Over the last week or so I have been sharing photos of the Roman ruins we saw at Volubilis during our recent tour of Morocco. Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is an amazing place to visit.
The town was settled in the third century BC but only began to grow in size and influence under Roman rule in the first century AD. It was occupied for more than 700 years after the Romans were defeated in 285AD. It was almost destroyed by an earthquake in the eighteenth century and only in the last few decades have archaeologists discovered the true extent, beauty and historic value of the ruins.
While the whole site is impressive, the highlight for me was seeing the beautiful mosaic tiles on the floor, as shown in today’s photos.
Mosaic tiles in Volubilis in Morocco
Mosaic tiles in Volubilis in Morocco
Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco
Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco
In some of the buildings of the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco visitors can see well preserved mosaics on the floors. We were amazed at how well these tiles have survived the two millennia since they were made. It is also is quite amazing that so many of the buildings remain, despite many of the stones being taken over the years to be reused in buildings in nearby Meknes.
Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco
Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco
Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco