Travel to the ancient Roman town of Volubilis, the country's best-preserved archaeological site. Formerly one of the capitals of King Juba II of Mauretania, the town’s remains bear witness to the grandeur of his former residences. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, Volubilis developed a flourishing trade in oil, corn and wild animals such as lions and panthers. Learn about the paved mosaics in the Houses of Orpheus, Dionysus, Ephebus, and Venus, and the marble Triumphal Arch built in honour of the Emperor Caracalla. See the Basilica of Volubilis, with its four rows of columns and three naves, which once served as a trading centre, law court, and meeting place.
Next, travel onward to Meknes. Here, you’ll discover the architectural legacy of Sultan Moulay Ismail: a ruthless tyrant, the Sultan was one of Morocco’s greatest leaders. With a harem of 500 wives, he settled in Meknes, where he brought in slaves to build an imperial city with ingeniously-designed granaries and stables for an incredible 12,000 horses. Pause to admire Bab el-Mansour, the giant imperial gateway built by the Sultan to show the strength of his new capital to Fez and Marrakech. Visit the mausoleum Moulay Ismail, an architectural site highly-regarded by both tourists and Moroccans. The building is several stories high, with a row of windows at the top that allows bright sunlight to filter in: the walls across several levels comprise of exquisite zellij, enamel-painted wood, carved plaster, arches, and marble columns. Explore the area with some time at leisure and take a break for lunch before returning to your hotel in Fez.