Medina in Morocco

A BROAD ABROAD: THE HEART OF MOROCCO

Compound ground of The Great Mosque of Chefchaouen.

A white building with headstones around.

Blue-washed Chefchaouen, Morocco, the Blue City.

Black Cat sitting in the sun in the Blue City of Chefshaouen.

A water fountain surrounded by carpets and red seating.

Antique teapot in front of a pool of blue water.

A large fountain basin, with decorative flowers and palm leaves.

Moroccan headboard and ornately carved wall fixtures.

Museum Nejjarine of Arts, Medina of Fez, Morocco.

Luminous hanging date pods in the Medina.

Beautiful leafy bough with a single ripe orange hanging in the sunlight.

What is a Medina?

According to my guide book a Medina is the “historic old city of which Morocco has many”. Of the half dozen that I encountered on my trip, all had city walls with highly ornamental gates or doors which in the past served to seal off the inhabitants from intruders. Now the ramparts delineate old town from new town, perhaps serving to protect the residents from the onslaught of tourist hordes! Here are the most important elements to the Medina.

The Mosque | The Heart of the Medina

The heart of every Medina is the mosque which is always surrounded by four essential communal elements:

Call to Prayer taken from my balcony at the Maison Arabe. The call to prayer marks the Muslims day in a very similar manner to hours of the day in a Catholic monastery.

The Bakery | A Wood-fired Bakery

While western style bakeries that sell baked bread, pastries and cakes are prevalent, the traditional bakery is where residents bring their bread and vegetables to be baked and roasted in a large wood fire by a baker.

The Hamman | A Public Bath House & Spa

The Moroccan Hamman is located near the Mosque in the Medina and includes steam rooms and exfoliation. A continuation of public bathing going back thousands of years.

The Quranic School | A Neighborhood School

This neighborhood school is affiliated with the Mosque, where children 4-14 are instructed in the Qu’an.

The Fountain | A Public Water Source

This neighborhood school is affiliated with the Mosque, where children 4-14 are instructed in the Qu’an.

Other features such as houses with front doors that lead frequently into an interior courtyard garden with fountains and formal beds with citrus, date and olive trees for family consumption.

Leaving the sanctuary of home, local bazaars, souks, conveniently offer a dizzy array of wares, food stalls, and ateliers which cater to the locals and tourists alike. Just beyond the city walls, the “laundromat” by the outdoor stream and the cemetery, can be found.

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