Fez
Low angle view of arch, Merenid Tombs, 14th century, Fez, Morocco, pictured on February 25, 2009 in the morning. The tombs, built for the Merenid sultans and now in ruins, are situated on the hillside north of Fez, Morocco's second largest city, and one of the four imperial cities, which was founded in 789 by Idris I on the banks of the River Fez. The oldest university in the world is here and the city is still the Moroccan cultural and spiritual centre. Fez has three sectors: the oldest part, the walled city of Fes-el-Bali, houses Morocco's largest medina and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Fes-el-Jedid was founded in 1244 as a new capital by the Merenid dynasty, and contains the Mellah, or Jewish quarter; Ville Nouvelle was built by the French who took over most of Morocco in 1912 and transferred the capital to Rabat. Picture by Manuel Cohen
