Photos

Fes...

...the cultural and religious center of Morocco, and one of the famous cities of the Islam world. Here is The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in 859 A.D. which is the oldest continuous operating university in the world (the white minaret in the center). On the right is one of the most venerated and old mosque - the Kiraouan mosque (the highest mosque). The Kairaouine Mosque was founded in 857 by Fatima al-Fihri, the daughter of a wealthy refugee from the holy city of Kairouan in Tunisia. Fatima and her sister Mariam inherited a great deal of money from their father, and Fatima vowed to spend all of it on a suitable mosque for the Tunisian community in Fes. Its minaret dates from 956 and is the oldest Islamic monument in Fes.

It is believed that Fes was the largest city in the world from 1170 to 1180, during the reign of the Almohad dinasty. Fes was the capital of Morocco at various times in the past, the last such period ending in 1912, when most of Morocco came under French control and Rabat was chosen to be the capital of the new colony, a distinction that city retained when Morocco achieved independence in 1956.

This is a view from the Merenid tombs late at dusk. This is the time when all the mosques summon for evening prayer. There are over 700 of them in the medina. Never have I experienced this - this ancient city is becoming alive in this time of the day! I just sat down and opened my sences to it...

It felt like...

almost...

sYnAeStHeSiA...