Meknes

About

Founded in the 11th century as a military settlement, Meknes rose to prominence in the late 17th century when Sultan Moulay Ismaïl made it the imperial capital of Morocco. He transformed it into an impressive stronghold with high walls with grand gates protecting a Spanish-Moorish style city. While today it’s overshadowed by neighbors like Fez, its UNESCO-listed medina offers some of the finest historical monuments in the country without the mass of crowds that clog other cities. A sign of its former stature, the main imperial gate, known as the Bab El Mansour, was built using materials from palaces taken during Ismail’s sack of Marrakesh. While impressive the gate doesn’t hold a candle to the incomparable craftsmanship at Ismail’s tomb. Then there’s the the king’s cavernous fortified granary, which could house 12,000 horses, mosques dating back to the 12th century, and plenty of other sites to discover in its winding alleys.