Morocco UNESCO World Heritage SitesMorocco UNESCO World Heritage SitesMorocco is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Site: Medina of Fez Fez Cultural: (ii), (v) Area ha (acre): 280 (690) Year: 1981 Description: The former capital was founded in the 9th century and features the world's oldest university. The urban fabric and main monuments date from the 13th and 14th centuries. Site: Medina of Marrakesh Marrakesh Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv), (v) Area ha (acre): 1,107 (2,740) Year: 1985 Description: The town was founded in the 1070s and remained a political, economic, and cultural centre for a long time. Monuments from that period include the Koutoubia Mosque, the kasbah, and the battlements. The city also holds newer features, including palaces. Site: Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou Aït Benhaddou (Ouarzazate Province) Cultural: (iv), (v) Area ha (acre): 3 (7.4) Year: 1987 Description: The ksar is an example of a traditional pre-Saharan habitat, surrounded by high walls and reinforced with corner towers. Site: Historic City of Meknes Meknes Cultural: (iv) Area ha (acre): — Year: 1996 Description: The former capital was founded in the 11th century and turned into a city with Spanish-Moorish influence during the 17th and 18th centuries. Site: Archaeological Site of Volubilis Meknes Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) Area ha (acre): 42 (100) Year: 1997 Description: The important Roman outpost of Volubilis was founded in the 3rd century BCE to become the capital of Mauretania. It contained many buildings, the remains of which have survived extensively to this day. Site: Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) Tétouan Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v) Area ha (acre): 7 (17) Year: 1997 Description: Morocco's most complete medina served as the main point of contact between Morocco and Andalusia during the 8th century. The town was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees following the reconquista. Site: Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) Essaouira Cultural: (ii), (iv) Area ha (acre): 30 (74) Year: 2001 Description: The fortified seaport built during the late 18th century has a mix of North African and European architecture, and was a major trading hub between the Sahara and Europe. Site: Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) El Jadida Cultural: (ii), (iv) Area ha (acre): 8 (20) Year: 2004 Description: The fortification, akin to Renaissance military design from the early 16th century, was taken over by Morocco in 1769. Surviving buildings include the cistern and a Gothic church. Site: Rabat, modern capital and historic city Rabat Cultural: (ii), (iv) Area ha (acre): 349 (860) Year: 2012 Description: Rebuilt under the direction of the French from 1912 to the 1930s, the city blends historic and modern features, such as botanical gardens, the Hassan Mosque, and the remnants of Moorish and Andalusian settlements from the 17th century. Fez The Bou Inania Madrasa built by the Marinid sultan Abu Inan Faris in 1351. Fez was the capital city of modern Morocco until 1925 and is now the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. The city has two old medina quarters, the larger of which is Fes el Bali. It is listed as a World Heritage Site and is believed to be one of the world's largest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas). University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world. The city has been called the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa", a nickname it shares with Cyrene in Libya. Fez is a popular tourist destination and many non-Moroccans are now restoring traditional houses (riads and dars) as second homes in the Fez medina. The most important monuments in the city are:
Marrakech in central Morocco is a popular tourist destination, but is more popular among tourists for one- and two-day excursions that provide a taste of Morocco's history and culture. The Majorelle botanical garden in Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction. It was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980. Their presence in the city helped to boost the city's profile as a tourist destination. Tangier Tangier, formerly the International Zone from 1923 to 1956, is a city in north of Morocco. Formerly part of the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Tangier is a blend of Spanish, Moroccan, and Berber cultures. Famous tourist sites in the city and near it include the Tangier-American Legation, Hercules Cave, the Kasbah museum, the Perdicaris Parc, the Musée de Carmen-Macein, Museum of Moroccan Arts and Antiquities, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Grand Socco, the Petit Socco, and Gran Teatro Cervantes. El Jadida El Jadida, formerly called Mazagan by the Portuguese, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, on the basis of its status as an "outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures" and as an "early example of the realisation of the Renaissance ideals integrated with Portuguese construction technology". According to UNESCO, the most important buildings from the Portuguese period are the cistern, and the Manueline Church of the Assumption. El Jadida is also home to the annual Salon du Cheval–the largest horse expo in Africa. Safety in Morocco Caution is advised due to terrorism. Recent examples are April 2011 terrorist attacks in Marrakesh, the Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland in Imlil December 2018. Morocco is a relatively safe country. Special Note: Our editor once lost his passport in Tunis, it was found by an old man who lives and controls the street, after giving a £10 reward, the old man was happy with his reward, editor was happy passport was returned. It turns out all streets in cities in Morocco have an old man that lives/controls the street, and anything lost is given in to this person. Am guessing £20 reward now is needs to be given. | |||||
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