Golden Gates & Holy Towers - Wandering Fes's Ancient Medina - UNESCO Morocco

Today I will take a walk through the ancient city of Fes, Morocco. This city is like a living museum with many bits of fascinating history sprinkled throughout the maze of over 9,000 alleys.

My journey today will start at one of the key landmarks as you enter the Medina, the Bab Bou Jeloud or “Blue Gate.” In my previous posts, I have shown the gate from the outside of the city, where the tile is blue. Below, you will see the same gate from the inside of the Medina is decorated with ornate green tiles. When I asked why the “Blue Gate” was also tiled green, I was told it had to do with the symbolism of the colors. The blue tiles on the outside represent the city of Fes, and the green tile is a symbol of Islam. Islam is of course the primary religion of Fes, and much of the historical traditions and current policies of the city are deeply connected to it.

I walk down the Talaa Kebira, which is one of the most prominent and longest roads in the city that runs from east to west. It is an energetic road with many shops lining either side, and a constant flow of pedestrians passing through. About 8 minutes down the road I come across an intricately designed building with a beautiful green tiled tower.

I learned that this is the site of the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University. The beautifully designed patterns on the walls of the building peak my curiosity, and it seems open to the public, so I wander in.

I marvel at the ornate designs in the open courtyard, and I am able to walk around a bit before I am told I cannot go any further. The men there politely tell me that besides the courtyard, all of the other areas are off-limits to non-Muslims. I try never to overstay my welcome, so I take this as a sign to continue back out into the Medina.

After a few minutes of wandering, I come across this cool old gate with a stream running through it. At first glance I was not sure what it was. Was it a bridge or a gate, or some kind of defensive structure? Later on I showed someone the photo and they told me it was a kind of medieval water gate, that brings water into the city, and also was used as a defensive installation during times of war.

After wandering around rather aimlessly and getting myself a bit lost in the maze of alleys, I decided to take my phone out and search for a direction to aim my feet in. I see there is a rather cool looking royal palace nearby, so I start to walk that way. Before long, I find myself in front of a large, colorful, and rather orderly looking building with golden doors. There are a few groups of tourists taking photos out front, but for the most part it is not crowded here. The building is so clean, it almost seems new in comparison to many of the other buildings in the old city.

I am surprised to overhear a guide telling someone that the palace is actually about 750 years old. It doesn’t seem so old, however, because the facade has been renovated more recently. Sadly, I also overhear that the golden gates are actually not golden at all, but merely polished bronze.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my wanderings in the ancient and beautiful old city. More on my adventures in Fes, and Morocco in future posts. All photos were taken by me. Thank you for stopping by! :)

If you are interested in reading more about my travels in Morocco, please check out some of my previous posts here:
A Hillside Fortress & Ancient Tombs Overlooking Fes
Exploring Fes’s Ancient Maze of Alleys
Following Goats to Summit of Mountain Over Chefchaouen