Top 10 Cultural Wonders to Visit in Morocco

Morocco, where the greatest elements of Arab and African culture meet, is a country that should be on the travel agenda of any visitors who have a great passion for culture and history. In Morocco, you will explore fantastic cultural wonders over boundless deserts, crystal-clear seas, and rural villages. A tour to Morocco will let you soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant country, and you can enjoy a cultural feast combining tradition and modernity. Here are the top 10 cultural wonders in Morocco waiting for your visit.

Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)

As Africa's second-largest functioning mosque, Hassan II Mosque is definitely worth visiting. King Hassan II had ordered it to be the most grandiose building ever constructed in Morocco. The mosque combines Moroccan and Islamic architectural styles and exhibits Moorish influences. It is situated at Bd Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in Casablanca, allowing the greatest number of 105,000 worshippers to congregate there for prayer. With the wind blowing, it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, which glistens in the sun.

The prayer hall in Hassan II Mosque offers breathtaking underwater views of the Atlantic Ocean with glass floors. Its walls are delicately decorated by about 6000 craftsmen and laborers, involving stucco moldings, zellij work, and wood carvings that are all intricate and incredibly remarkable designs. The hall’s retractable roof floods the space with daylight during the day and lets worshippers pray on clear evenings.

In addition, there is a small museum attached to the mosque, which describes the mosaics and wood cravings in great detail. There are no admission costs.

Hassan II Mosque

Ait Benhaddou

Located on the slopes of a hill between the Sahara and Marrakesh, Ait Benhaddou is an ighrem or ksar, that is, a fortified village, which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has been fortified since the Aloravids period in the 11 century.

There are various buildings in Ait Benhaddou, such as modest houses, tall towers, a mosque, a public square, and a large fortified granary, which are all made out of rammed adobe, clay bricks, and wood. The caravanserai, a sort of roadside inn where the old traders would exchange knowledge and tales of their voyages through the Sahara, is maybe the most fascinating. Its unique buildings and environment have made it the setting for many movies, from Sodom and Gomorrah (1963) to A Life on Our Planet (2020).

When visiting the ksar, you will meet some local residents, who may invite you to enjoy a cup of mint tea in one of their clay dwellings if possible.

Marrakech Medina

Marrakech has a rich Berber heritage and Arabic culture, and it has a fantastic medina (the old town of Marrakech). Walking on winding streets, you may find various riads (traditional Moroccan accommodations) along the way, which blend residences or palaces with Moroccan and Andalusi internal courtyards or gardens, and many of them have become exquisite hotels.

Jemaa el Fnaa Square is definitely a place you cannot ignore, where all kinds of sellers and entertainers are waiting for you: food stalls, orange juice stalls, musicians, the story-tellers, magicians, comedians, and Chleuh dancing-boys…Moreover, you can try special street food there, like tagine, merguez sausage, and briouat. Just next to the square, there is a souk (Marrakesh market), where you can buy some souvenirs or exotic items.

Some mosques are also worth your visit. Koutoubia Mosque is a recognizable landmark in Marrakesh and a prime example of Almohad architecture. Another must-see sight, Ben Youssef Mosque, is the oldest mosque in Marrakesh.

Marrakech Medina

Fes el Bali

It is the oldest part of Fez, which was once established as the Idrisid dynasty's capital. Situated by the Fez River on both sides. It has historic walls and gates, and the most famous gate is Bab Bou Jeloud. Two ancient kasbahs (fortified enclosures) were joined to the city on the west. In 1981, Fes el Bali and Fes Jdid were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as the Medina of Fez.

The University of al-Qarawiyyin, which was founded as a mosque in 857-859, was one of the top educational and spiritual institutions during the Islamic Golden Age. Nowadays, it has become a modern state university. It is an important architecture representing Moroccan history and Islamic culture.

Dar Batha is a royal palace in Fez commissioned by the Alaouite Sultan Hassan I in the late 19th century, and now is a museum. There is a vast rectangular courtyard, whose floor is decorated with beautiful zellij mosaic tiles. Sometimes there will be some concerts and religious festivals in the garden.

Fes el Bali

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Dar al-Makhzen

It is located in Rabat, Morocco's capital, and it is the royal residence. This palace has a long history, dating back to the 18th century. In 1864, Mohammed IV built a new palace to replace the old one.

The palace includes a mosque, a cooking school, a library that houses King Hassan II's manuscript collection, and living quarters for the Royal Guard. There is also the College Royal, where senior members of the Moroccan Royal family are educated.

Volubilis

Volubilis, situated near the city of Meknes, is an archaeological site. It is the capital of Mauritanian established in the third century B.C. and then it developed into a significant Roman Empire outpost. Volubilis has witnessed a series of cultural influences: Mediterranean, Roman, Arab-Islamic, African, Christian cultures and so on, which all reflect on the architectural styles, various decorations and artificial landscape.

You cannot miss some notable buildings. The Triumphal arch, one of the most distinctive sights, was built to honor the emperor Caracalla and his mother Julia Domna. The basilica and the Capitoline Temple are two prominent public structures that are easily seen in the city's center. In addition, wonderful mosaics on the floors or walls of houses will leave you a deep impression.

Chefchaouen Medina

The historic medina is tucked between two mountain peaks in a narrow valley and is famous for its blue-painted buildings. When leisurely wandering on the streets, you may feel that you are traveling in the sea. This place is peaceful and comfortable, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities like Fez and Marrakech. There you can take the slow pace of life, visit unforgettable experience sights, and enjoy a cup of fresh mint tea in several charming cafés. It is a shutterbug's paradise, for its colorful buildings, exotic items on the market and numerous individuals wearing traditional clothing.

There are some interesting museums. For a peek at this blue medina's history, you can go to the 18th-century Kasbah Museum. Chefchaouen's ethnographic museum shows an intriguing collection of musical instruments, photographs, and old weapons.

The Rif Mountains are just outside Chefchaouen, which is a famous destination for hikers. It is an ideal place to explore the beautiful scenery.

Chefchaouen Medina

Kasbah of the Udayas

Next to the old medina of Rabat, there is the Kasbah of the Udayas, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The majority of the Kasbah’s current buildings date back to the 12th century. Numerous Andalusian immigrants, Arab tribes, and some of Morocco's most powerful sultans have visited and lived there.

The great Almohad gate, Bab Oudaya, is regarded as one of the most important and beautiful gates in Morocco. Built by the Almohad caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur between 1195 and 1199, its carved decoration around the horseshoe arch entrance is noticeable, with profound cultural and historical significance. The Kasbah's main mosque is the oldest existing building there, having a medieval western Islamic style. If you want to know more about the past of this place, Oudayas Museum is an ideal choice. The museum's collection involves musical instruments, costumes, silks, jewelry, manuscripts, etc.

The Meknes Medina

Since 1996, it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To enter this medina is to travel back in time to the era of the sultans, which gives you a memorable experience.

When Sultan Moulay Ismail ruled the city, he left all kinds of architectural legacies that are speechless. Before you enter the medina, Bab Mansour will attract your attention as a monumental gate in the Moroccan city of Meknes, founded in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Its incredible architecture has earned it international fame. Decorated with green and white zellij titles and engraved Koranic panels, it represents the great power and influence of the sultan.

The medina's specialist souks are good places to discover the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, amazing crafts and special textiles. When tired, you can just walk to a teahouse for a cup of fresh tea.

Tangier

Tangier is Europe's entryway to Africa, blending Muslim, Christian, and Jewish cultures and other influences. With its fine view and multicultural background, it attracted many writers and artists during the 20th century: writer George Orwell, writer and composer Paul Bowles, playwright Tennessee Williams, etc.

There are some nice museums for visitors. The Museum of the American Legation is one of the best sights to visit, showing US-Moroccan interactions and Moroccan history. It includes a section devoted to Paul Bowles, an American expatriate composer and translator, where you can find his documents and images. Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures is a beautifully renovated museum, which once was the old sultan’s palace Dar El Makhzen. The mosaic of Venus from Volubilis as well as the statues are particular features.

The Grand Socco, a vast plaza, is the charming entryway to the Tangier medina, with a fountain in the center and tall palms around. You may meet some local people playing a kind of Spanish board game in café shops there.

Want a unique travel plan to Morocco? Just simply tell us your trip idea, Odynovo will create a tailor-made itinerary based on your specific interests and needs, we will do all research and booking for you so that you don't have to be headachy with planning the tour and accommodation. You can also get more inspiration for the article of "World's Best Destinations for Cultural Tour".