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MOROCCO
Morocco has been the home of the Berbers since the second millennium B.C. In A.D. 46, Morocco was annexed by Rome as part of the province of Mauritania until the Vandals overran this portion of the declining empire in the 5th century. The Arabs invaded circa 685, bringing Islam. The Berbers joined them in invading Spain in 711, but then they revolted against the Arabs, resenting their secondary status. In 1086, Berbers took control of large areas of Moorish Spain until they were expelled in the 13th century.
The land was rarely unified and was usually ruled by small tribal states. Conflicts between Berbers and Arabs were chronic. Portugal and Spain began invading Morocco, which helped to unify the land in defense. In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day.
Steeped in history, spanning miles of Mediterranean and Atlantic coastline, and boasting exciting attractions, Morocco is a sightseer's paradise. The main appeal has of course always been its inviting climate, however there is so much more to this diverse and historically rich country than meets the eye.
Adventurous travelers can head south to explore the hot desert sands in the Western Sahara on camelback, horseback or 4X4, or for a completely unexpected holiday experience, head deep into the Rif & High Atlas Mountains for a skiing holiday with a difference. With Phoenician, Hellenic, Carthaginian and Roman civilizations all having passed through Morocco, it's worth taking in the historical sights by exploring the countless museums, palaces, mosques, tombs and ruins and reveling in the immensity of Morocco's past. Many of the sights around the cities are best explored on foot, but for those traveling throughout the country, trunk line trains run through the heart of Morocco. Bus travel is also a popular mode of transport.
Past the enchanting Medieval medinas of Fez and Marrakech, where the snake charmers weave their magic, the smell of the tanners' yards fills the air and bustling souks of haggling bargain shoppers, is where the fascinating foreign land of Morocco comes alive
Morocco Attractions
Casablanca - this cosmopolitan, white-walled city is Morocco's largest and least endearing, although under the hustle and bustle and slight seediness, lies a unique and charismatic history waiting to be discovered. Casablanca is unlike any other Moroccan city. Women ditch the conservative clothing and dress themselves in the latest designer gear while men flirt shamelessly with them. But these threnodies of the upper crust do not represent Casablanca accurately - poverty has led to crime, drugs and prostitution and evidence of this can be seen in the slums on the outskirts of the city.
Fez - Fez is the cultural and spiritual centre of Morocco When you travel to Fez, you not only travel to a busy Moroccan city but also travel back in time for about 1,000 years. The modern world has barely intruded into the labyrinthine warren that makes up the medieval medina (Old City) of this ancient city, where donkeys carry merchandise to and from the souks through the crammed alleyways overshadowed by minarets, and the stench of the tanneries permeates the air. A holiday in Fez is an exotic, fascinating experience for first world visitors.
Anyone in love with the romantic notion of Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Arabian Nights will be drawn to holiday in Fez but the reality of the sights, sounds and smells of the ancient Medina may come as a shock. Travelers willing to plunge into this sensory overload will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience when they travel to Fez. Bargain-hunters who love seeking out local handcrafts and exotic goods will relish the souks (bazaars). The best vantage point over the ancient walled city, which lies at the eastern end of the plain of Saiss, bordered by the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, is from the ruined Merenid tombs on a hilltop. From here it is possible to view the skyline with its profusion of satellite dishes, and to pick out some of the magnificent palaces, green-roofed holy places and the Karaouine Mosque, all hemmed in by workshops and tenements, souks and squares, and a mass of humanity and the ubiquitous donkeys. Fez is secretive and shadowy, but captivating and colorful at the same time.
Marrakech - Traversing the alleyways and souks of Marrakech, particularly in the Medina (Old City), it is easy to believe you have been transported back in time or stumbled onto a movie set for a medieval 'Arabian nights' production.It is this enchanting fairy tale quality that brings thousands of sightseers to the most visited of Morocco's three Imperial Cities. The heart of the Medina is Djemaa el-Fna, an irregular 'square' where everything seems to happen and the place to which tourists are drawn again and again to soak up the carnival-like environment. Tourism, though, has not spoilt the atmosphere, but seemingly rather added to it.One of the many ways to soak up the sights and sounds of Marrakech is in one of the hundreds of horse-drawn carriages, known as caleches, that are for hire, but it is also necessary to take in the Medina's souks on foot, plunging into the hurly burly maelstrom of passages where tradesmen ply various crafts, from cloth dying, copper beating, and leather working to herbalists, perfumers and slipper makers, and where shopkeepers cajole passing tourists into taking a look at their glorious array of colorful crafts. The modern side of Marrakech with its luxury hotels, banks and streets bursting with motor scooters, blends well with the past in a metropolis made up of the peoples of the Berber Atlas tribes, Mahgrebis from the plains, and Saharan nomads.
Rabat - Morocco's capital, Rabat is a modern city with wide boulevards, gardens and light, white buildings, for the most part a far cry from the hectic warrens of the other Imperial cities of Marrakech and Fez, but no less steeped in history with its origins going back to the 7th century The King of Morocco lives here in his palace amid trees and flowers. Being an administrative capital the city is somewhat conservative and serious, but there is some local colour to be found in the old part of the city, the Medina, and the Kasbah. Recreational opportunities abound too, with a world-renowned golf course (the Dar Es Salaam Course) and a few lovely beaches at hand. Rabat sits on the Atlantic coastal plain at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, opposite to its twin city of Sale. Archaeological Museum, Hassan Mosque, Kasbah des Oudaïas, Medina Palace Museum and Gardens, The Citadel of Chellah.
Tangier - For decades, between 1920 and the late 1950's, Tangier was a playground for adventure seekers and the rich and famous, attracting all those seeking a tax haven or a mystic destination, from authors to artists and spies to aristocrats. Tourism is slowly increasing once more, though; visitors succumbing to the city's proximity to Europe are discovering that its decayed grandeur still has much to offer, from its palm-treed promenade and sandy beach to the old town section, and the outlying villages and resorts. Seasoned Moroccan visitors, however, warn that it is best not to take on Tangier until you are acclimatized to the rest of the country, and to be vigilant as regards safety after dark. Despite it's fall from glory, a stylish café society has once again begun to build up in modern day Tangier's boulevards, and the merchants in the medina (old city) are doing good trade with tourists exploring the maze of narrow streets, all within sight of the Spanish coast across the straits of Gibraltar. An essential part of a visit to Tangier is to promenade along the beach, which extends along a curve for several kilo meter. Dar el Makhzen, Forbes Museum, Grand Socco, Kasbah, Tangier American Legation Museum Short Excursions : Available from Tangiers to Asilah, Chefchaouen, Kalaa (Hiking in the Rif Mountains)
Walking in the Atlas Mountains
Travelers to Morocco find it hard to resist the lure of the distant Atlas Mountains, which arc southwards from the Mediterranean coast for 1,000 miles (1,609km), providing a trekker's paradise. Numerous guided walking tours and treks are on offer, generally starting from Marrakech or the village of Imlil, destined for the spectacular High Atlas to hike beneath forbidding peaks, through deep canyons, and past remote and ancient Berber villages. The adventure opportunities in the Atlas are varied, and range from challenging, like the ascent of Jebel Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa, to a tranquil stroll through the wild landscape of Jebel Sahro region, where rocky plateaux are interspersed with oases where exotic creatures congregate in crystal clear pools.
Sahara Desert - Colorful dunes and natural rock landscapes of the Sahara
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