In Fez, there is no escaping the past — not that you would want to. Considered the cultural capital and spiritual center of Morocco, Fez is also the oldest imperial city in the country, and its vibrant history is alive as you walk through the ancient medina. A medina like no other The Medina of Fez feels like a medieval maze, with twists and turns that take you further back in time.
This walled ancient quarter, also known as Fez el Bali, dates to the 9th century, and because vehicles and motorbikes are prohibited, this is the world's largest car-free urban area. It holds shops, food stalls and riads (houses,) and many artisans make their crafts here, giving visitors a "rare opportunity to see how many distinctly Moroccan treasures, from fine leather to copper pots, are made," Lonely Planet said. One of those spots is the Chaouwara Tannery, believed to be the oldest operating tannery on the planet.
Visitors stand on balconies and look down at the workers; from this viewpoint, you can see bowls of colorful dyes and watch every step of turning a hide into a piece of leather. It's "striking to see the hard physical labor," Lonely Planet said. The smells will be, um, pungent, so when entering the tannery, grab a few mint leaves to place in front of your nose.
Because of the medina's thousands of tiny streets, cobbled alleyways and unmarked passages, it is "nearly impossible to maneuver through the complex tangle," Condé Nast Traveler said. It is highly recommended that first-t.