#hammams

Outdoor enthusiasts will love mountains, beaches, and deserts

If you are the quite traveler who prioritizes a destination’s natural wonders, Morocco features a vast number of regions to explore, from the Atlas Mountains to the rock archway of Legzira Beach. you'll search for fossils within Western Sahara or observe the unique ecosystems at the oasis near Ouarzazate to the south.

Trace the steps of a Greek demi-god in Cave of Hercules near Gibraltar, or head to Friouato Cave to require a dip in an underground river in Tazekka park east of Fez. You’ll see everything from goats perched high in olive trees to Catcus Thiemann, the world’s largest cactus farm north of Marrakech.

Morocco’s resplendent tombs

Morocco has been home to humankind for a minimum of 300,000 years, and unsurprisingly, that long history has resulted in many tombs and cemeteries well worth a visit. a number of them are very intricate and delightful, like the lavish Saadian Tombs or Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and therefore the recently renovated Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Others, just like the 14th-century ruins of the Merenid Tombs or Miaara Cemetery – the most important Jewish cemetery in Morocco – are fascinating places to find out more about Morocco’s past and the myriad of cultures.

Ancient ruins

While cities like Tangier and Rabat boast contemporary wonders like one among the fastest bullet trains in Africa and therefore the Mohammed VI modern art museum, you'll never quite escape the past in Morocco. shortly from the town of Meknes, you’ll find the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a predecessor city dating back to around the second century AD that's now a Unesco world heritage site.

Volubilis is one among many archeological treasures peeking out from corners everywhere the country, just like the Phoenician settlement of Lixus, dating back to the 7th century. The Roman historian Plinius claimed Lixus was home to the mythological garden of Hesperides, where consistent with myth Hercules stole the golden apples of data.

The medinas of Morocco

Even if you’ve never visited Morocco, you’ve probably heard of medinas or the oldest historic quarters of the many cities throughout the Arab world. getting into the medina is like taking a walk back in time, though these districts are still considered a neighborhood of lifestyle in Morocco.

The medina of Fez, also referred to as the Fes Al Bali is home to mosques, ancient buildings, and therefore the Kairaouine University. Kairaouine is that the oldest education institution within the world, and has been in continuous operation since the year 859. While it’s not the sole historic district within the city or maybe in Morocco, the medieval medina of Fez may be a Unesco World Heritage site, and permanently reason.

So are the medinas of Tetouan and Marrakech, which both have their own charms. Tetouan is particularly untouched by time and has ties to Spanish Andalucía, while the Marrakech medina is usually called “The Red City” for its warm ochre walls.

Perhaps the foremost picturesque Medinah in Morocco is that of Chefchaouen – a labyrinth of vibrant blue walls set within the countryside near the Rif mountains. no matter which medina you select, finding the kasbah (a central fortified watchtower) is typically easier than finding the answer.

Moroccan mosques

Morocco’s historic mosques are architectural gems also as centers of spiritual and community life. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, as an example, is one among the world's largest mosques and is made on both land and sea. The Spanish Mosque in Chefchaouen was built, because the name implies, by the Spanish during a period of colonization within the 1920s, but the mosque was quickly abandoned after construction. Today it serves primarily as a hiking landmark from which the blue city is best viewed.

Another nearly-abandoned mosque is that the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The 12th-century minaret was intended to be a part of the most important mosque within the world, but the project was never finished. Even the Kairaouine University in Fez features a mosque as a part of its historic campus. While many active mosques are off-limits to non-Muslims, there are myriad older or incomplete mosques in Morocco which are hospitable tourists and house stories well worth discovering.

Gnawa music

Originally from West Africa, Gnawa may be a trance-inducing genre of music that feels spiritual and organic. Gnawa musicians are respected artists who incorporate poetry and dance in their moving performances. The music brings crowds to the tiny town of Essaouira per annum at the Gnawa World Music Festival. The event may be a must for anyone seeking opportunities to possess deep connections with nature et al. through art.

Atlas Film Studio

In Ouarzazate, Atlas Film Studio is that the world’s largest movie studio, where memorabilia from Star Wars, The Mummy, and Gladiator waste away within the desert sun. Cinephiles will love an opportunity to tour blockbuster film locations for classics from Casablanca to Game of Thrones. Even the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise filmed here, during a full circle from the real-life Barbary pirates who routinely sailed from the African coast across the Atlantic and back.

Souks and hammams

In a tradition as ancient as Morocco’s medinas, vendors gather every day in markets called souks to show over everything from fresh produce to meat, leathers, and residential decor. In some cities, like Marrakesh, there are sprawling souks specifically for various categories of products, from rugs and slippers to spices and metalwork.

While souks are scattered across every city and may be found in most medinas, the Habous market (also referred to as the New Medina) in Casablanca is one among the foremost well-known. Here craftsmen found out shops filled with handmade goods. Not too far from them, spiced olives season the breeze and just beyond the olives await more treats to be found.

After you’ve haggled it call at the souks, head to at least one of the general public bathhouses referred to as hammams. This tradition dates back to the sixth century and still lives on in Morocco. there's a spectrum of hammams that range from luxury to everyday bathing. Hammams are segregated by gender and typically employ individuals to wash and massage customers with a singular and thorough soap. As there are numerous hammams, it’s best to ask a guide or resident for recommendations within the city or neighborhood where you’re staying.

Morocco's famous mint tea

Outside of the country, Moroccan mint tea may be a name that’s slapped on countless labels of tea bags, though the steaming elixir is nearly a completely different drink. rather than being served during a mug, Moroccan tea warms clear glass cups that refract deep green bundles of freshly plucked leaves, herbs, and flowers. a typical order contains generous spoonfuls of sugar, but presumably one can expect a couple of extra cubes on the side of the saucer.

Learn Darija

Moroccan Arabic is usually considered one among the foremost difficult dialects of the entire language, perhaps because it’s so interspersed with a dizzying blend of French, Spanish, and Amazigh. Even within this umbrella term of Darija, there are multiple sub-dialects spoken in several regions of the country.