Meknes

Meknes, one of Morocco's four imperial cities, remains blissfully overlooked by most tourists despite possessing monuments to rival Marrakech and Fes. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids, the city reached its zenith under Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), who dreamed of creating a Moroccan Versailles.

Moulay Ismail's ambition left an indelible mark on Meknes. The massive Bab Mansour gateway, considered the finest in North Africa, announces his grandeur with intricate zellige tilework and carved marble columns salvaged from Roman Volubilis. Behind these gates, his royal complex stretched across kilometers, encompassing palaces, gardens, stables for 12,000 horses, and a harem housing 500 concubines.

Today, Meknes offers visitors an authentic experience largely free from tourist pressure. The medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, retains its workaday character with souks serving locals rather than visitors. The mellah (Jewish quarter) preserves synagogues and cemeteries from the city's multicultural past.

The city's strategic location makes it an ideal base for exploring central Morocco. The Roman ruins of Volubilis lie just 30 kilometers away, their mosaics among the finest in Africa. The holy city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco's most sacred site outside Mecca, crowns a nearby hilltop.

The wine-growing region surrounding Meknes produces much of Morocco's limited but improving wine output. The fertile Saiss plain provides the olives, figs, and produce that make Meknes cuisine among Morocco's finest.