FEZ
THE OLDEST OF ALL IMPERIAL CITIES
Founded in 789 and called the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa", it is a wonderful destination with a lot of history and tradition, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls of the medina is a maze of over 9,000 narrow streets, most of which don't even have names. This area is considered to be the largest urban area in the world without cars due to the fact that there is no way to drive there, there are even places through which it is trodden and bicycle to pass. It's a wonderful place to wander around for hours without knowing what's around the corner, it could be: mosques, markets, courtyards, cafes, madrasas, and many very interesting mosaics and doors. However, there is one place that is extremely easy to find and is the most photographed landmark in Fes because it is found by the specific smell that wafts from the leather workshops. Large stone vessels store different colored liquids used to process and dye leather. The production process is carried out entirely by humans and has been completely authentic since the Middle Ages, and in order for visitors to observe all this color, they need to carry with them a sprig of mint, which ignores the unpleasant smell. Various historical sites impress with their ancient history, such as the world's oldest university, which continues to study mainly Islamic religious themes today. In the newer part, which is also a little quieter but extremely rich in architectural detail is the Royal Palace, whose gates are iconic and recently restored and definitely worth a visit. There's also no mention that Fez is Morocco's culinary capital with its many interesting, some even quirky dishes, most of which are substituted with recognizable products. The main meats here are beef, chicken, lamb, and goat, and many salads and sweet desserts are available. A must-try is the tajine, a traditional clay pot dish that is a long-cooked stew of meat with vegetables, spices, and sometimes fruit, or the other popular dish, the pastilla, a combination of chicken in batter, salted almonds, cinnamon, and sugar. Sweet lovers should try the bruit - a triangular pastry with almond paste and many many other delights. Of course, this is just a small taste of all that you can see and discover in this exceptional city that is sure to captivate.