Bab Boujeloud (Blue Gate), Fes (must see)

Enclosed within imposing walls, the large Pacha el-Baghdadi Square serves as a link between the medina and Fès el-Jedid. On one side of it stands Bab Boujeloud, a meeting place with a great concentration of cafés and stalls. With its distinctive polychrome-tiled facades in blue (the traditional color of Fes) on the outside and green (symbolizing Islam) facing the Medina, it's a pretty unmistakable sight.

Constructed in 1913 in the Moorish style, this fine monumental structure consists of three symmetrical horseshoe arches. Despite being a millennium younger than the surrounding medina, dating back to the French protectorate era, it is considered the primary and most aesthetically pleasing entry point into Fès el-Bali. Interestingly, the gate locks from the outside, which may have been a measure implemented by French authorities to keep the unruly old city bottled up at night.

As the use of heavy artillery evolved, the fortified gates of Fès transitioned from practical defense mechanisms to ornamental structures, enhancing the city's prestige and facilitating the collection of city taxes. From this entranceway, visitors can catch a glimpse of the minaret of the Bou Inania Medersa to the left, and enjoy the car-free surroundings.