They warned us a thousand times as we entered the ancient medina in Fez: do not take your eyes off the rest of the group. Otherwise, a 9th-century maze of 12,000 lanes, alleyways and dead-end streets would swallow us up, and no one - not even our omnipresent, all-knowing tour guides - would know where to find us. - Sarah Maguire, Sydney Morning Herald
Photo: Suzanna Clarke
"There are more than 9000 narrow streets in old Fes creating a maize that you are bound to get totally lost in. It's useful to get a guide at least for a day." - About.com
"Fes el Bali contains more than 9500 alleys and lanes" - Frommer's Morocco
"Classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco, Fès el Bali regorge de monuments et de lieux historiques éparpillés dans les 9500 ruelles de la médina." - linternaute.com
How many streets and alleyways are there in the Fez Medina? It is an interesting question that does not appear to have a definitive answer. The most quoted numbers in the better guide books are 9000 and 9500 but could it simply be an urban myth that has turned into fact by repetition?
Photo: Suzanna Clarke
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