Morocco (Knopf Guides)

"Bright with mosaics of paintings,drawings, graphics, photographs, city plans -- the fabric of 'place'...brilliant" -- New York Magazine

Standing at the gateway of the Mediterranean, Morocco can easily lay claim to being one of the most beautiful places in the world. Greatly influenced by the Porteguese, French and Spanish, all the while maintaining its own indelible mystique, Morocco is a country of walled cities, snowcapped mountains, royal palaces, spicy cuisine and chaotic, labyrinthine souks. It is romantic, exotic and at once sophisticated and primitive.

Begin your travels across the country -- filled with untold treasures and possibilities as magical as its night-blooming jasmine -- with a journey to the Portuguese citadel of El Jadida and then move on to the stunning cities of Fez, Tangier and Marrakesh. Become knowledgeable in the local culinary specialties such as ras el hanout or "head of the house", a blend of cloves, roses and cinnamon mixed by well-practiced grocers.

Filled with information on Morocco's rich artistic heritage from the many foreign artists who were inspired by its landscape and people (Henri Matisse, Eugene Delacroix and Paul Bowles among them) to the indigenous production of rugs, jewelry and zellige (elaborate tile patterns) that has gone on for centuries.