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Marrakech (about 1,000,000 inhabitants), one of the imperial cities of Morocco, together with Fes, Meknes and Rabat, is defined as the "red city", due to the color of its ancient walls buildings made with sanstone. It is a fascinating city capable of enchanting all the senses, not just the sight: the warm wind, the scent of spices and food cooked outdoors, the constant voices of the vendors, the horns, the music in the central square, the pleasant tactile sensations on the skin in the hammam. Marrakech, like other Moroccan cities has an older inner heart, the medina, a fortified citadel surrounded by more modern neighborhoods. The most interesting places to see are concentrated inside the medina, declared a UNESCO heritage site. The vibrant center, crossroads of activities and lives, is Jemaa El Fna Square and the bazaar that surrounds it. Its incredible feature is that it changes nature depending on the time of day. During the day it is crowded with street vendors, snake charmers, musicians, women who draw henna tattoos, in the evening the stalls that cook typical dishes appear. Enjoying this show at sunset, from one of the café terraces around the square, is an unmissable experience. Right next to the Jemma el Fna square, there is perhaps the symbol of Marrakech par excellence, its large and labyrinthine market. You enter it from a main street, but then the branches are endless, with several internal doors; and if there is the risk of getting lost, it is also easy to find the main road again. Marrakech has the largest souk (traditional Berber market) in Morocco.
Moving around the city center, the minaret of the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutoubia Mosque, is a constant point of reference. 69 meters tall, it is the oldest and largest of the last three Almoravid minarets (1100-1220 AD) left in the world. The Medersa ben Youssef, a Koranic school of a later period (16th century), has a refined, detailed architecture, with a courtyard carved in cedar, plaster and marble. Generations of students have formed here over the centuries; today it is open to the public as a place of historical interest. In the heart of the medina, near the ancient Jewish ghetto, is the Bahia Palace, built in 1890 by a grand vizier, considered a masterpiece of traditional Moroccan architecture. Both the interiors, with many halls and rooms, and the exteriors with various courtyards, are refined, decorated with detail and with quality materials. The El Badi Palace is instead part of the Royal Palace complex, not a real building but what remains of one of the most sumptuous residences in the world, built by the Saadian king Ahmad al-Mansur around 1578. Today it is a place of attraction also because it is a favorite of storks, which come here to nest. The Sa'dian Tombs are one of the most historic monuments of the city, brought to light in the 1920s. It is a funerary complex whose structures were built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansūr around 1557. Adjacent to the remains of the Royal Palace, are the Agdal Gardens: typical orange groves, lemon trees, figs, apricots, pomegranates and olive trees make up this lovely place. The Menara Gardens are instead near the Jemma el Fna square; these are different spaces of tranquility with trees and flowers in the center of the medina. The complex includes a large pool at the foot of a pavilion built in the sixteenth century by the Sa'dian dynasty. Agdal and Menara have been Unesco heritage since 1985.
Among the gardens, the one best known for its history and its particularities is the splendid Majorelle garden with its paths among plants coming from all over the world and its decorative details in Moroccan style. It is located outside the old city and can be a reason for a break from the chaos of the center. The garden, built by the French artist Jacques Majorelle who moved to Morocco in the early 1900s, was bought after his death by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Inside, among cacti and palm trees of all kinds, colorful flowers and fish tanks, stands the electric blue villa (the famous majorelle blue) halfway between Moorish and Art Noveau style, once private estate and now home to the museum of Berber art.
Founded in 789 by Emperor Idris I, Fes is the oldest of the Imperial Cities and is considered the cultural capital of Morocco for the richness of its historical and artistic heritage. Today Fes, with over 1,000,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in the country after Casablanca.
The Medina of Fès, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is the ancient heart of the city, and unfolds in a labyrinth of winding alleys on which donkey carts climb. Balak! it is the typical shout that is often heard, an invitation to passers-by to stick to the walls, in order to avoid being run over. The Medina is accessible through monumental gates, the most famous of which is Bab Boujeloud, the Blue Gate.
The places not to be missed are the Medersa Bou Inania, considered the most beautiful Koranic school in Fes, and the nearby Medersa Al-Attarine. Another unmissable monument is the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II, dedicated to the emperor who founded the city for the second time in 810. Five centuries after his death, a still intact body was found on the spot, and the population, assuming it was that of the emperor, wanted to pay homage to him.
Fes is also known for its handicraft activities mainly related to ceramics and tanneries. The two most important tanneries in the Medina are Chaouwara, and Sidi Mousa. The first, in addition to being larger, is the most impressive due to the high number of tanks and colors used. In both, the methods for working leather in vogue in the Middle Ages are still used.
Other interesting places to see in Fes are the mellah, the Jewish quarter where the synagogues, the cemetery and the houses remain, even if the Jewish community no longer lives here, and the Royal Palace Dar el-Makhzen, with immense brass doors. , which cannot be visited inside. In the Medina, the Jardin Jnan Sbil, represents a quiet oasis to get away from the noise and stroll among fountains, rose bushes, orange trees and other plants.
Located in the Dades Valley, close to the Moroccan Sahara, Ouazarzate (56,000 inhabitants) is a city in a strategic position between Marrakech and the desert. It expanded in the 1920s, as a garrison of French colonialism, but its centuries-old history is linked to its function as a post office for the caravans bound for Timbuktu. In 1983, Atlas Corporation Studios was created, a major center of film production, where several films have been (and continue to be shot) distributed around the world, such as The Gladiator by Ridley Scott. For this reason the city was nicknamed Ouallywood. Near Ouarzazate is the Kasbah (fortified citadel) of Taourirt, one of the best preserved in Morocco, built in the nineteenth century by the rich and powerful el Glaoui family. This site, due to its historical importance, has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and due to its suggestive strength it has also been used as a location for the film The Desert Tea. Almost all tours from Marrakech to Ouarzazate or further south to the desert also include a stop at Aït Benhaddou, a magnificent kasbah 30km from the city that seems to emerge out of nowhere.
This small town (35,000 inhabitants), nestled 600 meters high in the Rif mountains, a region of northern Morocco, is called the "blue city" due to the prevailing color of its houses. Founded in 1471 by Andalusian exiles, its shape recalls the characteristics of the villages in southern Spain. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 10, its historic center is a small architectural jewel, made up of paved alleys, small squares and gardens, stairways, houses with decorated wooden doors and majolica frames. Among its eight mosques, the most important is the Grande Mosquè, from the 15th century, with a particular octagonal tower. Its medina is among the most popular in Morocco, with cafes, restaurants and many craft shops. The main square, Place Uta el-Hammam, is surrounded by lush mulberry trees, with a fountain in the center. The heart of the old city is the Kasbah, a 15th century fortress with crenellated walls, which houses the small Ethnographic Museum. Also of historical interest is the fondouk, an ancient caravanserai that continues to welcome passing traders in its spacious courtyard. Finally, it is worth reaching with a short walk the place that probably gave rise to the first settlement, the source of Ras Maa, a scenic waterfall whose waters continue to feed the mills of Chefchaouen.
Located along the Atlantic coast, Casablanca (about 3 million inhabitants) is the economic capital of Morocco, the main center  of the country's foreign trade.  Built in 1906, on the site of  a 7th century Berber city, today it appears to the visitor as a modern, cosmopolitan, modern and frenetic city. The most important building to visit is the Assan II Mosque, between the only two mosques in Morocco open to Muslims. After sunset, a laser from the top of the minaret indicates the direction of Mecca. The old part of the city, the 'Medina', is full of narrow streets and surrounded by the old city walls. Outside the Medina is the city built by the French in the Art Deco style, the Nouvelle Ville, characterized by avenues, shopping centers, banks, large hotels and modern shops. Overlooking the gardens of the Parc de la Ligue Arabe stands the white Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, of Catholic worship, with its splendid hand-decorated stained glass windows,
Shoppers will appreciate the Morocco Mall, an oceanfront shopping center that holds the distinction of being the largest mall on the African continent. Not far away is the suggestive Sanctuary of Sidi Abderrahman, visible a short distance from the Corniche. Located on a rock in the middle of the sea and accessible only at low tide, this place is not allowed for non-Muslims who cannot cross the threshold of the temple. However, you can explore the small neighborhood that has sprung up around it. In this area, ideal for walking and admiring the sunsets, there are the city beaches, while the nightlife is animated by several discos.
Despite being in Africa, Casablanca enjoys a mild climate, in summer the average temperature does not exceed 26 degrees centigrade.
Tangier (950,000 inhabitants), located on the northernmost tip of Morocco, on the Strait of Gibraltar just 16 kilometers from the Spanish coast, is the ‘city of the soul’ of the writer Paul Bowles, whose book A Tea in the Desert inspired the blockbuster by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Due to its strategic position, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Tangier boasts a rich history that has seen the dominion of the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans and then the Arabs, the Portuguese, the Spanish and the English. Today it is a cosmopolitan and lively city that develops like an amphitheater around the port. The Medina of Tangier is a labyrinth of narrow streets that intertwine on the hill overlooking the port with a  beautiful Kasbah, dated back to 1600. The Kasbah stands on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, and hosts the charming Sultan's Palace, today the seat of a important museum, full of beautiful mosaics and bronze statues brought to light from Roman archaeological sites and works of art and precious artifacts, such as Berber carpets and jewels, coming from different locations in Morocco. In the south-western corner of the Medina, on the other hand, is the former American Delegation, from 1821 to 1961 the diplomatic seat of the United States, testimony to the years in which Tangier was declared an international zone. The palace today houses an important collection of ancient geographical maps and artistic works by Delacroix, Kokoschka and Saint-Laurent. In the vicinity of the lovely square of the Petit Socco is the Great Mosque, transformed into a church and then again into a mosque in 1684, while in the vast square of the Grand Socco, there is the pulsating center of Tangier, animated every day by a colorful crowd, where a market rich in Moroccan handicraft products takes place. The Ville Nouvelle in Tangier is the ideal destination for a stroll and for shopping: Place de France is the heart of the new city and is a trendy place surrounded by luxurious hotels, cafes and restaurants. The beaches are another major tourist attraction of Tangier, especially those of Asilah, Moulay Bousselham and Larache.
Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is located on the left bank of the Bou Regreg River, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along northwestern coast of the country. Despite having the appearance of a modern city and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, it has been able to develop while preserving the precious pre-existing cultural heritage, so that in 2012 it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Phoenician, Roman, Almohad dynasty and Merinide Berber dynasty monuments tell the long history of Rabat.
Located between the sea and the river, the Medina of Rabat, the characteristic walled district very common in North Africa, stands in front of the Old Town of Salè, built on the opposite bank of the Bou Regreg river. Small but picturesque, characterized by classic narrow and cobbled alleys, the Medina has beautiful white buildings and is full of Moroccan cafes and craft shops and offers a splendid view of the Atlantic Ocean. At the mouth of the river there is one of the symbolic places, the Kasba of the Oudaïa, built on a rocky promontory just north of the Medina. This Berber royal fortress, built around the 12th century by the Almoravids, is surrounded by gardens and overlooks the ocean.
Beyond the Medina, past Hassan II avenue, the new city of Rabat extends. Here are other places of historical interest, such as the iconic Hassan Tower, a 12th century minaret that stands on the ruins of a mosque built starting in 1195 and remained incomplete. The red brick tower that can be seen today, about 44 meters high, should have become the tallest minaret in the world. Not far away is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a modern building that houses the remains of Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef and his sons Moulay Abdellah and Hassan II, decorated in the classic Moroccan style, outside with white marble inside with traditional mosaics Islamic.
On the outskirts of Rabat are the remains of the Chellah necropolis, an important archaeological site used in Muslim times as a burial place, but with an even older origin. Here are also the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Sala, dating back to 200 BC. C., of which a triumphal arch and the thermal baths survive. To make the place more evocative are the numerous storks that have found a safe haven for their nests.
 
Located on the slopes of the Middle Atlas mountains, Meknès (600,000 inhabitants) is one of the imperial cities of Morocco, smaller and less famous than Fes and Marrakech, but no less fascinating. The city and its surroundings are in fact known as one of the most lush green areas in the nation. Its name derives from a Berber tribe, the Miknasa, and was the capital under the emperor Mpulay Ismail ibn Sharif between the 17th and 18th centuries.
Place el-Hedim is the enchanting large central square of the city, very reminiscent of the Jaama el Fna in Marrakech. Games, shows and attractions take place starting at sunset. The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail also overlooks this square, an imposing building, ocher in color, visible only from the outside for non-Muslims. Nearby is the magnificent gateway to the city, Bab el-Mansour, built in the 17th century. The most majestic and best preserved of Morocco's imperial gates, it is decorated with inscriptions and marble columns from the nearby archaeological site of Volubilis.
In 1996 the medina of Meknes, dating back to the 11th century, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was built as a fortified citadel and over the centuries it was surrounded by high protective walls, built with different styles, characteristic of the Islamic architecture of the Maghreb and southern Spain.
The Medina is a crossroads of people, a place that explodes with colors, scents, sounds. The many fountains indicate the focal points where people gather and where the main activities took place.
An important historical building to visit is the Medersa Bou Inania, that is the Koranic school of Meknes, consecrated in 1350 by Abu Inan Faris, a superb example of Moroccan architectural style: the wooden ceilings, the walls decorated with mosaics and the historiated doors are gorgeous.
 
This archaeological site, one of the best preserved sites in Morocco, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located 27 km from Meknes. Inhabited since the Neolithic era, Volubilis was the westernmost of the cities of North Africa. With the name of Oualili, "pink oleander", it was one of the capitals of Mauritania which was annexed to the Roman Empire in 42 AD. C. Today the site bears witness to the Roman vestiges of the ancient urban center and among its ruins it is possible to recognize the remains of a thermal plant, an ancient forum and a triumphal arch. The archaeological area is also rich in mosaic fragments with numerous scenes from Greek-Roman mythology.
Zagora (34,000 inhabitants) is a city located in the Draa valley. As an outpost of the desert, on the border of Morocco, it has served as the starting point for numerous expeditions from the 16th century to the present day. Iconic is the sign depicted by a camel and the words "Timbuktu, 52 days". This is the estimated duration of the crossing of the desert, among the most hostile in the world, to the nearest city in Mali.
Beni Mellal is a charming city (about 60,000 inhabitants) located in the geographic center of Morocco, in an area of great beauty. It rises at 625 m a.s.l. in an oasis at the foot of Jbel Tassemit (2247 m), between the reliefs of the Middle Atlas and the plain. The Kasba of Beni Mellal, that is the oldest citadel, dates back to that time and over the centuries the city developed around it, becoming an important stopping point for caravans seeking refreshment from the desert sands. Much of the modern development is instead due to the construction of the dam that formed the lake of Bin el Ouidane, an important water reserve for the agricultural development of the city. Just outside the urban center, the true wealth of this city extends for kilometers and in all directions:  its cultivation of oranges and olive trees, whose products are exported throughout the Mediterranean.
One of the most interesting cultural attractions of Beni Mellal are its music and dance schools, which draw on a centuries-old tradition of traditional composers, musicians and dancers made famous throughout Morocco by the legends of the Berbers and Bedouins.
The most visited tourist destination in the region is about 120 kilometers from Beni Mellal: the Ouzoud waterfalls, which drop down with a spectacular jump of over 110 meters.
This little town, surrounded by the mountains of the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas, is considered a small Marrakech, due to the bastions (7km and a half) that defended it and its lively souqs. This Berber market town used to be on the caravan routes and it’s nowadays a great hub for exploring the Atlantic coast south of Agadir.
Skoura is a charming village located in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of southeastern Morocco. Also known as "the palmeraie of Skoura," this enchanting place is famous for its lush palm gardens and picturesque kasbahs, which give the landscape a unique and magical atmosphere. These sumptuous residences, which once housed the families of local lords, are now fascinating historical relics and offer insight into Morocco's traditional architecture. Archaeology lovers can also explore the site of Ait Benhaddou, an imposing kasbah declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient fortified city, located a few kilometers from Skoura, has been used as a backdrop for numerous Hollywood films and is a must-see for film and history buffs.
Chegaga is an extraordinary and fascinating desert located in the Western Sahara region of southern Morocco. This vast expanse of golden sand dunes is one of the most striking places in the country and offers an unforgettable experience for lovers of adventure and natural beauty. The Chegaga dunes are among the highest in Morocco, reaching impressive heights that offer breathtaking views of the vastness of the desert. The silence and peace here are incredible, allowing visitors to completely disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature.

Essaouira, an ancient coastal city founded by Phoenician merchants, is located on a peninsula facing the Atlantic ocean, about three hours drive from Marrakech. Known as the white city for the typical color of the buildings in its medina, it has played an important role in its history as a commercial center, starting from the exchange of salt and purple dye, obtained from fishing for murexes. In 1764, Sultan Muhammad III of Morocco transformed it into a fortified naval base designed by the French architect Thèodore Cornut. For years it remained the only port open to foreign trade and enjoyed great prosperity also thanks to the large Jewish community which became intermediary between the sultan and foreign powers. Its decline began with the French protectorate, to the benefit of other ports such as Casablanca and Tangier.
Today the city has flourished thanks to tourism and its cultural and musical vocation. Its flagships are the port, where freshly caught fish is unloaded from fishing boats and displayed on stalls to be sold, the Kasbah with the fortified walls still defended by cannons, and the Medina, declared a UNESCO heritage site, with its white houses and blue shutters, the little square of Moulay Hassan with its cafes, the narrow alleys that then open into small squares where markets and bazaars are set up.
The Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Museum collects the best of local art and crafts: collections of musical instruments, jewels, carpets and costumes, weapons and paintings on wood. Essaouira also boasts a beautiful sandy beach that disappears in the late afternoon to make way for the tide that almost completely laps it.

Taghazout is a village in southwestern Morocco overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and is 16 km north of Agadir. It has effectively become an eco-friendly enclave that attracts visitors from all over the world, to surf and enjoy the temperate climate all year round.
Located on the western coast of the Sahara, just 400km from Mauritania this city in southern Morocco is an oasis of peace and tranquility where the sun always shines even in winter. Dakhla is renowned for its golden sand dunes that reach the Atlantic Ocean, offering an unforgettable experience for desert lovers. Fans of kitesurfing and windsurfing will find their paradise here, thanks to the perfect conditions offered by the windy waters of the magnificent lagoon.
Marrakech is the best starting point for exploring the main Maghreb mountain range. More precisely, the most accessible mountain section from this city is the High Atlas, where the Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, is located.
Cloaked in snow in the winter months and teeming with wildflowers in the warmer months, the rocky plateaus and lush valleys of the Atlas Mountains offer striking landscapes, made more fascinating by the presence of Morocco's Berber tribes.
In the eastern part of the High Atlas, in a remote point bordering the Jebel Sarhro mountain range, there are the Todra Gorges, one of the most spectacular canyons in the world: high rocky walls (even reaching 300 meters!) with pink and gray shades,  carved by the water.
One of the most scenic places in Morocco, for its numerous oases, palm groves and beautiful Kasbahs, is the Dades Valley, a canyon not far from the Todra gorges, 110 kilometers from Ouarzazate, in the heart of the Valley of Roses. This valley formed over the centuries through the walls of the High Atlas mountains thanks to the Dades River, since ancient times it has been the main route between the desert and the ancient trade oasis of Tafilalt. 
The Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2,260 meters) is the highest pass in the country and is located on the panoramic road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, crossing the High Atlas mountains, up to the borders of the arid desert. From this pass, with a detour of 25 km you can reach the Kasbah of Telouet built in 1900, one of the residences of the last pasha of Marrakech.
Easily accessible from Marrakech are the Ouzoud waterfalls, the highest waterfalls in North Africa, imposing masses of water that flow into a reddish rock gorge at the foot of the mountains, offering a breathtaking natural spectacle.
One of the experiences not to be missed when visiting Marrakech is a desert tour. The spectacular desert landscape that offers unique emotions can be enjoyed riding a camel or on modern 4X4s equipped with air conditioning. The two most important areas of the Moroccan Sahara Desert are Merzouga and Zagora.
The Merzouga Desert, the farthest from Marrakech (about 550 km), corresponds to what eveybody imagines when thinking of the Sahara Desert: the Erg Chebbi dunes  reach also 150 meters in height, the highest in Morocco, and they have nothing to envy to those of the Algerian and Libyan deserts. The Zagora Desert is more arid and with fewer dunes than Merzouga Desert. The main advantage of Zagora is that it is located closer to Marrakech (360 km) than Merzouga. Zagora is a fascinating place surrounded by a palm grove and dominated by a rocky massif. To reach it, during the journey you can stop to admire historical sites, such as the magnificent Kasbah Aït Benhaddou.

Located in southern Morocco, this valley is crossed by the country's largest river, the Draa. which remains dry for almost the whole year. It is nicknamed "the valley of a thousand Kasbahs" due to the presence of numerous city-fortresses, built to defend themselves from attacks but exploited by merchants and caravans, coming from Timbuktu, and by the strenuous crossing of the desert, as they were cool and hospitable places. The landscape in this area is very varied, and includes lush plains, palm groves, snow-capped mountains, sand dunes.

This fascinating valley, with its tuff villages perched on the mountain sides and checkerboard cultivated fields, is less than an hour's drive from Marrakech. In winter and spring it is also possible to see the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains, while in summer, the weeping poplars and willows on the banks of the Ourika River offer a welcome coolness.
The Agafay desert is the most accessible desert area, only 30 km from the city. However, it is a jewel of nature with surprising rock dunes and small relaxing oases.
Merzouga is an enchanting and fascinating place located in southeastern Morocco, in the heart of the Sahara Desert, renowned for its incredible sand dunes, which offer an unforgettable experience and total immersion in the beauty of the desert. Indeed, the main feature of Merzouga is its vast expanse of sand dunes, among the highest and most majestic in Morocco. Merzouga's dunes reach impressive heights, allowing visitors to enjoy spectacular views and breathtaking sunsets.