Travel in Morocco – Hotels, Morocco Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide



The Beauty And Mystique Of Morocco

Vacation and Travel to Morocco
Moroccan Casbah taken on a stomy day at dusk

Morocco is offically known as the Kingdom of Morocco and is located in North Africa. With a population of 34 million people, Morocco is both modern and still has its culture deeply rooted by the Arab influence, customs and culture. The country celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence on November 18th, 2006. Morocco is the 57th largest country in the world and is equivelent in size to the state of California.

When traveling to Morocco tourists are provided with a wonderful chance to visit some of the more popular tourist sites. While in the country, visit Casablanca, home of the Hassan II Mosque. It provides a lovely example of Moroccan architecture and is the only mosque open to the public.

Marrakesh offers several historical and architectural sites and has many interesting museums. Djemma El Fna is the center of the nightlife in this area. There are open-air stalls that sell foods and a wide array of Moroccan fares. At night, the streets are filled with dancers, musicians, and storytellers and during the day there are snake charmers and merchants with monkeys, and henna artists.

The El Bahia Palace is an exquisite and grand place to visit. The palace was designed by Muhammed al-Mekki and constructed between 1894 and 1900. It is large and rambling and set within ornate gardens, there is a mosque, elaborately tiled courtyards, reception areas and private quarters. The palace is constructed of stucco, carved and painted woodwork and glazed ceramic tile.

Dar Si Said Museum is only a short distance from Djemma El Fna and is set on the grounds of an old palace. The museum has many different artifacts of all ages from Morocco such as carvings, instruments and weapons. It has been dedicated to the Moroccan art of wood carving and has a beautiful collection of carpets, ceramics, pottery and clothing.

The city of Fez is the capital of Morocco and is one of the oldest cities in the Arab world. The city is home to the Merenid Tombs which are located next to the Merenid Hotel. From this vantage point there are some of the finest views of the city of Fez. The Merenid rulers were integral to making the city of Fez, the cultural and religious capital of Morocco.

All throughout Moroccan history, there have been a host of people coming from the east (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs), south (Africa), north (Romans, Vandals and Andalusians) and all of these civilizations have had a direct influence on the cuisine. Moroccan cuisine is some of the most diverse in all the world, as a result of centuries long outside interaction. There is an extensive use of spices in Moroccan food like saffron and mint. Other ingredients include oranges, olives, lemons and limes. The most famous dish of Morocco would have to be Couscous, which is made from a combination of pastilla (squad or shredded chicken), tajine (the pot the food is cooked in), and harira (soup).

Morocco is cooled by the winds from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, providing it with a moderate subtropical climate. The annual average temperature rates in the cities surrounding Morocco as follows: Rabat, 71 °F; Casablanca, 69 °F; Marrakesh, 71 °F; Fez, 66 °F; Meknes, 68 °F; and Tangier, 66 °F. It the mountainous areas of Morocco, temperatures can dip below freezing and the mountain tops remain snow-packed all year round. With Morocco being just a stones throw away from Europe, the continent and world of Morocco is a totally different experience for travels.

User Contributions:

1
Simo
The city of Fez is NOT the capital of Morocco

The Capital of Morocco is Rabat

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