Much is talked about the south of Morocco; the kasbahs, the palm oases and the Sahara Desert, but the northern half of Morocco easily matches the south for sites of interest to visitors. This photo shows one such place - Chefchaouen, the prettiest town in Morocco. Chaouen (as it's often written and referred to) is a whitewashed town nestled in the foothills of the Rif Mountains to the north of Fez and to the south-east of Tangiers. Popular with Bohemian travellers on account of its excellent budget accommodation and the availability of 'Kif' (marijuana) which is grown in huge quantities in the Rif Mountains. The town is a real gem and makes a good stopover en route from the north coast to Fez. Of other towns in the extreme north of Morocco, Tangiers is perhaps the most interesting. Love it or hate it, Tangiers is a unique place, caught between Europe and Africa (facing the Straits of Gibraltor). Not surprisingly for a place that represents the nearest there is to a border between Europe and Africa, Tangiers has an edge to it, and a chequered history. Formerly an "international zone" (a shared territory, effectively) the town built up quite a reputation as a "beatnik" hangout in the 60s. The likes of Paul Bowles and William Burroughs are just two famous literary ex-residents. Now the town has a faded feel to it, with an interesting medina and superb views from the hilltop kasbah overlooking the Straits. Elsewhere in the north, Tetouan is a picturesque town with some fine examples of Moorish architecture, and the Mediterranean coast is in the throws of being developed for tourism. Moving south, but still comfortably in the northern half of the country lie the imperial cities of Fez and Meknes. Both former capitals of Morocco, these two ancient cities are arguably the most interesting historical monuments in the country.Meknes brims with historical sites, from palaces and mosques to prisons, and Fez is one the world's last remaining pockets of medieval Islamic civilisation. Neither city should be missed, particularly for visitors interested in cultural and historical sites. Close to Meknes are the Roman ruins of Volubilis, set in rolling countryside close to the holy shrine of Moulay Idriss. The site is fairly compact and makes an interesting side trip from Meknes, particularly in spring when the surrounding countryside is beautiful. South of this region lie the superb Middle Atlas Mountains, a land of welcoming villages and cedar forests.
|
