48 Hours in the World’s Biggest Medina, Fez, Morocco by Reigne Villa and Chano Sanchez

Category: Press Review

Reigne Villa and Chano Sanchez, her husband, spent 17 days exploring Morocco in May 2024, including 48 hours in Fez. Reigne Villa is currently a full-time nurse and Chano Sanchez is a sport scientist living in Ireland. They enjoy travelling, exploring new places and discovering other cultures. They also produce beautiful videos and photos of their trips where they share their experiences and try to inspire others to travel. They are interested in the history, culture and architecture of the places that they visit. They do a great amount of research to document their travel and explain the context. They are adventurous and willing to explore on their own, even in a labyrinthine medina like Fez. They also enjoy trying local cuisine…

Reigne and Chano visited, experienced and filmed the following points of interest in Fez, including:

> Fez Medina, the largest medieval medina in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They explored its narrow, vibrant streets, and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the past. They also chose to explore it without a guide, despite the possibility of getting lost;

> Al Attarine Madrasa, a 14th-century Islamic college known for its exquisite architecture and decoration. They climbed the stairs to see the student rooms and the view of the city;

> Al Qarawiyyin complex, considered by many to be the oldest university in the world. Although only Muslims are allowed in, they were able to observe it from the entrances;

> Berada Family Restaurant, where they enjoyed traditional homemade dishes. They were invited into the kitchen to choose their dishes. They described the food as delicious and affordable;

> Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts, located in a former caravanserai, also called Funduq. They admired the fine woodwork and artisanal tools;

> Chouara Tannery, the largest and among the oldest in the city. They observed the process of hand-making leather. They were given mint leaves to alleviate the smell;

> Dar al-Magana, a 14th-century water clock. They noted the complexity of its mechanism and the lack of documentation about it;

> Bou Inania Madrasa, one of the most important religious institutions in Fez, built by the Marinid dynasty;

> Bab Boujloud, a city gate built by the French colonial administration;

> Jnan Sbil Gardens, 19th-century royal gardens. They appreciated the trees, fountains, and ponds;

> The Mellah, the old Jewish quarter of Fez, with its distinctive architecture and cemetery. They noted the historical presence of the Jewish community in the city;

> The gates of the Royal Palace, which they were able to admire from the outside.

Karawan Riad’s team had the chance to welcome Reigne and Chano at Leelah Spa & Hamman (you can watch their visit at 10:30 in the video), where Reigne enjoyed a hammam treatment. They report that they appreciated the cleanliness and professionalism of the spa & Hamman, as well as the Moroccan tea offered after the treatment. They also took the time to enjoy the view of Fez from the riad rooftop…

Travel Tips

Here are the Travel Tips that Reigne and Chano share, based on their experiences in Fez and elsewhere in Morocco:

  • Be open to adventure and exploring on your own, even in a labyrinthine place like the Fez medina;
  • Use monuments or street names as landmarks to navigate as online maps are not always reliable in the narrow streets of the medina;
  • Don’t accept help from strangers who tell you you’re lost or that a street is closed. Decline their help politely or walk past with a smile. Don’t let strangers approach you or engage as they might try to take advantage of the situation;
  • Do your research, check prices and read reviews before visiting a tourist spot or choosing a restaurant or a spa or hammam. They discovered Leelah Spa & Hamman at Karawan Riad by reading a lot of reviews online;
  • Visit sights early in the morning to avoid crowds;
  • Take advantage of the rooftop views to see the city from a different perspective;
  • Try local cuisine and flavors. Be prepared to eat large quantities of food, as portions at local restaurants are usually large. Don’t hesitate to try local pastries, even if they are sold in small bakeries;
  • Be prepared to haggle if you want to buy from the souks (they give more tips on haggling in their video on Marrakech).

“Seeing the locals having their daily routine while we were wandering the alleway of the vibrant souk was like a trip back to the past to a World created from a blend of the Middle Ages with light touches of modern time!”
Reigne Villa
Nurse & Traveller

You can find more of their many travel videos on their YouTube channel, Reigne’s Instagram and Chano´s Website bellow…