Seffarin Madrasa

Welcome esteemed travelers and seekers of knowledge to the vibrant and historic heart of Fes el Bali. You are currently standing within the oldest walled section of the magnificent city of Fez. …

We now stand directly before the imposing and brilliantly ornate entrance gate of the Seffarin Madrasa. Take a moment to simply gaze upward at the sheer craftsmanship displayed on this monumental threshold. …

Stepping out from the shadowed entrance we are immediately embraced by the breathtaking beauty of the main central courtyard. This open air space forms the beating architectural heart of the Seffarin Madrasa. …

Let us now direct our close attention to the lower portions of the courtyard walls. You will immediately notice that every single foundational wall is brilliantly covered in meticulous intricately arranged colorful tiles. …

Raising our eyes slightly above the vibrant ceramic tiles we encounter a breathtaking expanse of delicate intricate stucco carvings. This brilliant white plasterwork wraps around the entire midsection of the courtyard walls like…

Now look directly upward toward the overhanging eaves and the magnificent ceilings that beautifully crown the interior walkways of the courtyard. Here we find stunning expansive wooden ceilings heavily carved with brilliantly…

Direct your gaze toward the upper galleries and the small unassuming wooden doors that quietly line the perimeter of the second floor. Behind those modest doors lie the private residential student quarters of the Seffarin Madrasa. …

As we stand together near the center of the madrasa it is vitally important to understand that the Seffarin Madrasa did not operate in absolute isolation. It was a crucial vital component of a much larger grander intellectual…

We have now returned to the grand ornate gates of the Seffarin Madrasa standing once again on the historic threshold between the intense quiet of scholarly pursuit and the vibrant endless chaos of Fes el Bali. Before you step…