The cities of Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat are known collectively as the Imperial cities, and have all at some point in Morocco’s history been the capital; Rabat is the current holder.
Fes is the oldest, first established as capital in the ninth century under Sultan Idriss II, a great-great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. After his dynasty fell, the Almoravides took over, and Marrakech became their capital. Fes still remained an important city, and has been capital twice since under different rulers.
The Almohads took control in the 12th century and built a new city, Rabat, as their capital; this was replaced, during the rule of Morocco’s notorious sultan, Moulay Ismael, by Meknes.
Rabat again became capital under the French protectorate, which began in 1912, and retained the title after independence.
Most of the cities in Morocco have preserved at least some of their medieval walled Medinas. The streets in these areas are very narrow, and they are, for practical reasons, substantially car free, although not always motorcycle-free.
Souks are found in many of Morocco’s cities, although the most expansive shopping areas lie in the cities of Marrakech and Fes. Here within the ancient walls of the medina, daily life follows a centuries-old pattern. Goods are haggled for in tiny shops and stalls, often over glass after glass of what might be considered the national drink-hot sweet mint tea.
