Meknes and Volubilis, Morocco

December 26, 2018
001 - P1150694 December 26 Wednesday - continuing our journey from Rabat to Meknès Ville Impériale (Meknes Imperial City); driving distance approx 98 miles, 1 hour 45...
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002 - IMG_2025 Meknes (Meknès), located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the Kingdom, one of the four imperial cities (Rabat, Meknes,...
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003 - collage of Meknes ... founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became the capital of Morocco under the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, son of...
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004 - IMG_2019 ... Moulay Ismaïl (1645-1727) turned Meknes into an impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great doors, where the harmonious...
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005 - IMG_2029 Meknes
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006 - P1150711 從拉巴特向梅克尼斯出發 - 梅克尼斯是摩洛哥四大古都之一，被譽為「摩洛哥凡爾賽宮」- 轉往沃呂比里斯羅馬古城，它是摩洛哥保存極完整的羅馬遺跡。
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007 - P1150725 梅克尼斯古城 - 傳說君主十分愛馬，在宮內飼養了500多匹，每天親自巡視打理。至今每年都有騎術表演。這個建於十一世紀的古王城，是當時的伊斯梅爾國王下令修建，伊斯梅爾對法國太陽王路易十四十分崇拜，因此以凡爾賽宮為藍圖來修建王宮，希望能與路易十四並駕齊驅。
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008 - IMG_2033 今天，這古王城仍保留了40公里城牆及金碧輝煌的皇宮及花園，可漫遊一下城內的拉拉奧達廣場及凱米斯城門。
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009 - P1150751 轉往沃呂比里斯羅馬古城，它是摩洛哥保存極完整的羅馬遺跡。當年它負責協助輸出糧食給羅馬，亦是北非的行政中心及軍事要塞，但目前只剩下廣場、會堂和拱門等建築。
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010 - P1150705 Meknes
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011 - P1150710 ... bitter orange and olive trees lining the street of the old city...
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012 - P1150726 Meknes
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013 - P1150702 Meknes, made up of the old (Medina) and the new (Ville Nouvelle); the two distinct centers less than three miles apart but harnessing quite different vibes -...
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014 - P1150700 Meknes
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015 - P1150690 Bab el-Khemis (El Khemis Gate), built in 1673...
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016 - IMG_2020 ... the stately Bab el Khemis, a beautiful gateway into the historic medina (Old Town)...
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017 - IMG_2023 ... two watchtowers flanking the gate, and ancient walls stretching in both directions...
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018 - P1150695 ... blue, green, and brown providing a pretty contrast to the sand-colored walls; the well-preserved entrance gate featuring traditional Moroccan craftsmanship...
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019 - IMG_2022 ... Bab el-Khemis (El Khemis Gate)...
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020 - P1150697 Meknes
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