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An old man sells spices along Tala'a Kebira in the heart of Fes's old city. |
Jacqueline and I recently bought
Fez from Bab to Bab: Walks in the Medina, a renowned guidebook available for sale locally. The guide offers ten walking tours throughout Fes’ old city, one of which Jacqueline and I walked on Saturday, with some of our own modifications and on our own schedule. Our exploration began at Bab Bou Jeloud (باب بو جلود), among the most ornately decorated of the
medina's dozen or so gates, which allow passage through the ancient city walls.
After walking a few hundred meters through a bustling market, we arrived at the Bou Inania
madrasa, named for one of Fes's greatest sultans, Abou 'Inan, who led the Merenid dynasty during its glory days in the 14th century. The
madrasa, elaborately decorated in fine
zellij tiles and intricate cedar wood carvings, remains a sight to see, and a testament to the wealth and power centered in Fes in its greatest era.