Andy Song
During the March Break, I visited the cities of Fes, Casablanca and Marrakech in Morocco as part of a school-organized outreach trip. Each city had a historical district originating from medieval times called the "medina" -- from Arabic, meaning "city" or "town". Walking through the medina of Fes (a less touristy city) at night, our group was subjected to the uncomfortable stares of locals unfamiliar with the sight of a very young and diverse group of tourists.
The medinas are characterized by narrow alley-like streets, traditional architecture and populous street vendors; our group was bombarded by these vendors, who -- similar to the mosquitoes buzzing in the air -- came in endless waves and pounced on anyone that showed any trace of interest. While it was a bit of a cultural shock, I quickly adjusted to and found beauty in the atmosphere created by the medina's unique construction.
The University of al-Qarawiyyin in the old medina, shown in the first picture, was founded as a mosque in year 859 and became the oldest university in the world. Street vendors in the medinas specialized in crafts (i.e. textiles, pottery); students there could opt to drop out of traditional school to enter a craft school preparing them for a life of selling their handiworks.
Architectural Characteristics
Fes has two medinas: the older one was built in the late eight century, and the newer one in the fourteenth century. The medinas have been extremely well preserved over time, being deemed an official UNESCO Heritage Site.
The medinas were constructed with tall structures separated with narrow, winding paths to thwart invasion attempts -- a valid threat at the time. Patios were built high up, creating the dark atmosphere but providing much needed shade in summers that could reach temperatures of almost 50 degrees Celsius.
The architecture style has been described as "Moorish": a traditional Moroccan style mixing elements from Berber heritage in North Africa, pre-Islamic Spain (including Roman, Byzantine, and Visigothic influences), and modern trends from the Islamic Middle East. The Moorish style is characterized by intricate geometric patters in the mosaic floor/ceiling tiling and carved stucco walls, incorporation of arches, Arabic calligraphy engraved into walls, and prominence of courtyards called "riads" flourishing with greenery and open space.
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