Visiting Fez is not only about seeing the historical monuments, but it’s about discovering the core of the city. To be more specific, there are a lot of markets to visit in Fez. Maybe you will wander, why would I visit the markets ? and what is special about them ? But those markets make Fez the capital city of traditional handicraft in Morocco.
There are many places to visit in Fez as it was mentioned. So, because Fez has been famous of the traditional industries that have been producing for hundreds of years. The city has several popular markets, due to the local handicrafts that the inhabitants worked, which makes it an attractive sign for the establishment of markets to sell their products.
So, if you’re interested in shopping or not, you should not miss the opportunity to visit and discover the street markets in Fez medina. Here are some of the famous ones:
EL Attarine Market
From the name of the market, it seems to be a market for selling perfumery materials, herbs and plants. This market is counted as the antique market in the city, and it is located in the heart of the city of Fez, which is close to El Quarawiin Mosque.
El Henna Market
This is one of the oldest markets in the city, it specializes in the sale of cosmetics and natural recipes for beauty, like Kohl and henna. It also sells the ink and some pens for students who study at the old school, as well as some ceramic utensils. This market is so close to El Attarine market.
Essafarine Market in Fez
This market is one of the most important landmarks of the city of Fez. It is famous for the handicrafts of copper, silver utensils and jugs. This market is named after the yellow color, which radiates copper and utensils. Also it is counted as a tourist destination where it is full of history and tradition.
Essabaghine Market
It is the market for tanning craft, and it is famous for its colorful floor due to the colors cast by the dyers on the tiles, turning it into a beautiful painting.
The time you enter this market they give you some mint to hold in your hand because of the strong smell of the leather that they dye there. But the view of this place from the top will blow your mind.
Ennajarine Market
The time when you enter this market you will recognize the smell of cedar wood that is used by carpenters in their work. The craftsmen use the wood from cedar and rice trees to make tables, boxes or ornate doors and many different things for decorating houses. In this market there is a big square called “Ennajarine square” where there are very beautiful fountains of water.
El Kissariya Market
Also, this market is specialized in producing silk, embroidered fabrics and brocade, as well as the availability of local pottery products ornaments and jewelry. This market has been famous for its many products that please the visitors.
Ain Allou Market
This market is famous for the industry of “man slippers”, the traditional Moroccan shoe, in bright yellow or bright white, gray or blue. The market is full of concerts that are manufactured there as well.
As a general idea about the products that are sold in these markets; there are :
The slippers, all leather goods are found in the market of Ain Alou as it was mentiend, after the Al Sharablien Mosque in Al Tala’a Al Kabira neighborhood, the main road in the old city.
The wood, like small tables and chairs, but also small boxes in the carpenters’ yard. Take a picnic at the Jewish Hotel, which houses horse makers and carpenters.
Costume and silk dresses, there are Luxury products that are presented in Caesarea where you can find fabrics, very decorated clothes, Amazigh jeweler, silver and gold. It is also sold in some navigator shops because craft was the prerogative of Jews.
Copper, which is a large number of engraved dishes, jars, teapots and other objects are displayed in the Essaffarin square.
Spices and Henna; at Attarin Market offers you all kinds of spices. The mixture of vibrant colors and smells is reminiscent of the city’s strong culinary traditions, which have its roots in the 13th-century Andalusian Arab origins. Here you will also find natural cosmetics.
Also, you can find them between the market of Attarin and Jotia, the market of salt and fish. As you go through these places, you will mention the active move of the vendors that Fez occupies, screaming with the name of their product.
All these markets in Fez are close to each other, and all of them are located in the core of the city. These markets are the most famous ones, selling all what was mentioned before. Fez gives tourists and locals as well, all the traditional handicrafts and products they need.
