LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Imperial Cities
Untitled Document
TWO WEEKS / FÈS TO MARRAKESH
This route traverses around 500km and takes you from the medieval imperial cities of the Moroccan interior to the mega-cities of the coast and down to Marrakesh, the clamorous heart of Moroccan tourism on the borders of the Atlas Mountains. Allow a minimum of two weeks.
One of the great pleasures of a Moroccan visit is to immerse yourself in the Imperial Cities that once were ruled by the enlightened dynasties who crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and pulled Europe out of its dark age. Begin in Fès, the venerable heart of Morocco’s religious and cultural life and see where modern Morocco and its rich antecedent crowd for space in its extraordinary medina.
Easily accessible from Fès, Meknès is a name that resonates through Moroccan history, which is lavishly expressed in its extraordinary palace built by Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727). A step even further back in time, Volubilis is an enduring monument to the astonishing breadth of the Roman Empire and easily Morocco’s most well-preserved ancient city. Nearby Moulay Idriss is home to the shrine of the founder of Morocco’s first imperial dynasty and remains a wonderful antidote to the clamour of the cities.
Backtracking to the coast, Rabat may not have the prestige of Morocco’s other cities, but it’s enjoying its third period as Morocco’s imperial capital. Largely a modern city of elegant French streets, its quiet, 12th-century medina offers hints of its former imperial grandeur. For a bit of modern imperialism, street-savvy Casablanca is home to skyscrapers and the buzz of being modern Morocco’s most prosperous city and principal port. Apart from anything else, Casablanca is one of those places worth visiting for name recognition alone. The only other city to rival Casa’s energy and anarchy is, of course, Marrakesh, that icon of today’s Morocco, where centuries of souqs, street performers and imperial architecture have been perfected into a decidedly intoxicating mix.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
