Fez, Morocco
University in Fez, Morocco
The Qarawiyyin Mosque, in the heart of Fes el-Bali, is one of the most venerable mosques and centres of learning in the world. It was founded in 857 to 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman whose family had come from Kairouan, and became one of the great spiritual and scholarly centres of the Islamic world. UNESCO and Guinness World Records cite it as the oldest continually operating institution of higher learning. Law, grammar, astronomy, medicine and mathematics were taught here, famous scholars passed through, and in 1963 it joined Morocco's modern university system as the University of al-Qarawiyyin. The mosque is a complex that carries the mark of many eras: the 12th-century Almoravid extension with its muqarnas domes, and the courtyard to which the Saadians added two domed pavilions and fountains reminiscent of the Alhambra, with zellij and carved wood throughout. To the south, off Seffarine Square, is the Qarawiyyin library, one of the oldest libraries in the world, holding rare manuscripts; it has been restored and parts reopened in recent years.
The mosque is open to Muslim worshippers only; others can see part of the courtyard and prayer hall through the open doorways without stepping inside. Those going in to pray should dress modestly and remove their shoes; women have their own entrance. Do not linger in doorways at prayer time. The best glimpse of the courtyard is from the roof of the neighbouring Al-Attarine Madrasa.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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MosqueFez, Morocco
