This madrasa is one of the few religious sites in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter freely. A madrasa is both a school and a mosque, this one is currently a mosque and university. Madrasa Bou Inania was built in the mid 14th Century, and is an example of some of the world’s most lovely Islamic architecture, with almost every inch of the building decorated in fine detail – from the hand carved green roof tiles, to the sculpted ceilings and marble floors. This is the only The Marinid dynasty were responsible for building the madrasa – and this was the last one they built and became the most important Islamic site in the city, the grand mosque. It also has the city’s most graceful minaret.

The madrasa underwent careful restoration work in the 20th Century, but it was repair rather than renovation work predominantly.

At the same time as the madrasa was built, the Dar al-Magana, a wall into which is set a hydraulic clock, was erected just across the way – useful for the students to tell whether or not they were supposed to be in class.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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The Bou Inania Madrasa

The Bou Inania Madrasa is well known not for it's teachings, though it does have a teaching tradition dating back to the 14th Century, but for the grace of its Marinid architecture – the Marinids were known as builders and this is the last madrasa they built. It's the only madrasa in Fes with a minaret.

 

Review posted 29th September 2009 by Dan Alba.

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