El Mokri and Royal Palace Fez
El Mokri Palace
Two palaces of El Morki and Royal Palace of Fez are truly two wonderful buildings with different characters. This charming building of El Morki Palace of Fez is located in the southern part of the medina. It was built by Si Tayeb El Mokri, who served as Minister of Finance to Sultan Moulay El Hafid until 1912 and then served Sultan Mohammed V. Tayeb el Mokri had an interest in art and culture. He was music lover and he was the first Moroccan to import a piano, and his four wives were musicians.
The palace dates back to 1906 and is still occupied by members of the El Mokri family. A great taste and sophistication is apparent throughout his palace, which covers some 20,000 square feet in all. The old palace displayed beautiful works of sculpted stucco, painted wooden ceilings, carved cedar wood, beautiful staircases and Murano glass windows and chandeliers.
Royal Palace
The Royal Place, also known as Dar al-Makhzen is a graceful building with an impressive facade. It covers an area of 80 hectare, has seven 80 feet high doors symbolise the seven days of the week. The palace is not open to public unless you have a special invitation to the palace grounds. One can only admire its seven imposing front gates. These gates are adorned with one of the finest tilework and carved cedar wood. Built in the 1960s, they’re masterpieces of modern craft work in Morocco.
