 FEZ:Taking a walk through history
Fez was founded soon after the Arab invasion of North Africa and Spain at the end of the 8th century, making it the oldest of the imperial cities in Morocco. It was founded by Moulay Idriss, the great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed in a time when Islam split into the Sunni and Shi’ite sects. When the Sunni Umayad Dynasty took control in Damascus, the Shi’ites dispersed and sought refuge in the east the west. Moulay Idriss, a charismatic leader, was among those to move west. He died in 791 and left his son Moulay Idriss II to establish Fes, the new capital. The city started out small but soon, immigrants and refugees started coming in from Andalusia (notably Cordoba), and Kairouan, in Tunisia. These two groups of refugees settled on opposite side of the river, creating the Andalusian quarter and the Karawiyan quarter. Both of these neighborhoods are marked by their mosques that housed the refugees.
Since its foundation, Fes has experienced a long history of transitions between dynasties and protectorates during which the Fez Medina underwent many changes and growth. Today, the Medina of Fes remains one of the largest living medieval cities in the world. We say “living” because it is still very much alive. More than 156,00 people live in the 9,000 streets of the Medina amongst some of the greatest historical monuments and architecture in the world.
As you walk through the Medina of Fes, you will see colored stars that ADER-Fes has installed to mark tourist circuits. Each color corresponds to a different tourist circuit. So you can take a number of walking tours through the Medina, without having to pull out your guide book at every turn! We have listed some of the highlights of the historical monuments in Fes. Non-Muslims cannot enter any of the mausoleums or mosques, so just be prepared to see what you can through the open doors.
Some important terms to know:
Bab: door, or gate
Borj: watchtower
Dar: house. In the Medina, it is distinguished from a “riad” because it is a traditional house with a central courtyard that has no garden.
Fondouq: caravanserie - for travelers who came with their animals to trade.
Jnane: garden
Medersa: a theological college that also teaches law, Arabic literature, and grammar.
Riad (or riyad): a traditional house that is distinguished from a “dar” because it has a courtyard with a garden.
Souk: an open-air market
Zaouia: shrine/ mausoleum - people come here to visit, sleep, prepare food, and pray.
Zelij: geometrically patterned tiling | 
Linear Mode
