The Magic of Meknes! Morocco's Imperial Secret

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:

The Magic of Meknes! Morocco's Imperial Secret (YouTube)

Today we feature the imperial city of Meknes, which has a prominent place in Morocco's history and culture, particularly as it relates to the Alaouite Dynasty, who continue to reign as the ruling family of Morocco today.

This episode originally appeared as part of our initial split tour episode: Ep, 71, Oct 15, 2024 - "From Capitals to Afterthoughts and Back Again: The Stories of Meknes & Volubilis (live walking tour)."

BUT - this time we have an extended focus on Meknes, and you can watch the video version as well over on our YouTube channel.

In the mid-17th Century, sultan Moulay Isma'il chose Meknes as his capital. Over the next 50 years, he rebuilt the city on a monumental scale, fitting of a new, imperial city.

The end of Moulay Isma'il's reign however, in 1727, led to a competition for power, and eventually Meknes lost its status of imperial capital, which moved back to Fes. Later, the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 also hit northern Morocco very hard, causing damage in Meknes that further undermined its status and prestige.

In our episode today, we have a fabulous local guide, Abdellatif, who spoke excellent English and had a deep knowledge of history and detail throughout the old city. Be sure to request him if you have Meknes in your Morocco tour itinerary, fingers crossed he will be available!

Abdellatif tells us about the interconnected nature of the medina, which contains more than 10,000 houses. He tells us the history of the Mellah, and how although the population has dwindled, these days Jewish ancestors come back to retrace ancient footsteps.

We explore the Bab el-Khamis, one of the monumental entrances to the medina, decorated with intricate calligraphy. Abdellatif translates it for us and explains why it's called the "happy gate."

We then visit the mausoleum of Moulay Isma'il, which includes a mosque, prayer space, madrassa and library. We learn about how families with Alaouite ancestry, even if they are not rich and powerful today, are still allowed to bury their dead in the royal cemetery, thanks to this lineage. 

We see how mosaics were created through mathematical calculations, and then Abdellatif points out the supposedly haunted prison, the "prison with no windows or doors," where the Sultan would bargain for the lives (frequently Europeans) in the age of piracy. Fortunately those days are long over!

Abdellatif truly brings Meknes to life with his vibrant and descriptive tour. You'll gain a new appreciation for this fascinating and often bypassed city, which is in fact quite easy to add to a standard Chefchaouen-Fes itinerary. 

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