This
former royal city of Meknčs is yet
another unexpected delight this
country has to offer. One of
Morocco's most beautiful historical
cities, its twenty-two kilometres of
town wall, monumental gates and the
ruins of an immense palatial complex
form an impressive and curious
backdrop for the meeting point of
Morocco's main roads.
The 17th century sultan Moulay
Ishmail wanted to create a royal
capital here that would rival
Versailles. He had an army of
bricklayers, black slaves and
several hundred captured Christian
slaves build 120km of town wall,
dream palaces, stables for 12,000
horses, hanging gardens watered by a
4 hectare pond and immense storage
sheds. After almost a century of
construction, he left one of the
most beautiful cities in
Moorish-Arabic style in the world.
What to see in Meknčs
City Gate
With its intricate horseshoe shape
and beautifully decorated detail,
the Bab al-Mansour gate in Meknčs is
the most beautiful in Morocco-and
one of the most iconic in the Muslim
world.
Bab Al-Mansour Ruins
The ruins that surround the gate of
Bab al-Mansour stretch out for miles
along the town walls, watch towers
and adjacent complexes that once
formed the heart of the town's
defences.
Heri es Souani
The ancient granaries and vaults
that were once designed as a
state-of-the-art project under
imperial supervision may be
overgrown with foliage, but they
haven't lost their impressive
architectural features.
Moulay Ishmail Mausoleum
The most famous leader of Meknčs,
and the creator of much of its
architectural splendour, is revered
and remembered in this stylish,
solemn mausoleum.
Jamai Palace
Built as the residence of a vizier,
this delicate palace within the
town's medina (old quarter) now
houses the fascinating collection of
the Museum of Moroccan Arts.
Moulay Idriss
From Meknčs, rolling green hills
extend towards Mount Zerhon, where
the holy city of Moulay Idriss lays
perched against a slope. Famous for
its green rooftops, it offers one of
the most picturesque views of
Moroccan town life.
Volubilis
A short drive from Meknčs lays
Volubilis, the most important Roman
site in this part of North Africa.
Built in AD 40, this formerly
imposing and sophisticated Roman
town, inhabited not just by Romans
but also by Greeks, Berbers, Jews
and Carthaginians, built its wealth
and power on the wheat trade.
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