The Medina in Fes was founded in the 9th century and grew to its height in the 14th. It’s a UNESCO site for a reason, being the oldest and largest Medina in the world. If I had not have had a guide, I think I would be lost there forever.

Out first stop was the the food market…not pictured: the smell of the sections where fish were sold ☠️

We then saw the yarn dyers…

The copper smiths…

The weavers…

And the ever famous tannery… Here they process many types of animal skins using pigeon poop to soften the skins and a variety of local dyes to color them. The whole place smells so badly that they give tourists mint leaves to put under our noses while walking around.

A Medina is not just a place to create and sell wares, it is also a place to live, learn, and worship. Down the narrow walkways and through the doors are very large rooms that are often decorated very extravagantly with mosaics. We ate lunch in this restaurant that was likely a Synagogue originally (thanks to a Seminary friend who is a Rabbi for pointing that out to me).

The Kairaouine Mosque and University was founded by a woman named Fatima in the 9th century, and is the oldest university in the world.

Outside of the Medina, we also went to a pottery making workshop where I drooled over and coveted so many things that I can’t afford…