Place Seffarine and Coppersmiths' Souk

Place Seffarine is a small square in Fes el-Bali, in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region, lined with brass and copper workshops and set beside the library of the Qarawiyyin. A large plane tree shades the square. The draw is the noise of hammering as metalworkers beat out pans, trays, lanterns and cooking pots, and the stacks of shining metal for sale. Visitors can watch craftsmen engrave and shape the metal by hand, a trade handed down within families. The square is free to enter, and the metalworkers are active from roughly 8am to 6pm, closed on Friday morning. A visit takes about 30 minutes. It lies between the Chouara tannery and Al-Qarawiyyin, so it is usually included in a walking route through the medina. Morning, when hammering starts, is the best time for sound and activity. The square is small and can be crowded by guided groups at midday. Prices at the workshops are negotiable, and visitors who want to buy should compare several stalls before agreeing a price. The lanes around the square are narrow and busy with porters and carts. Photography is generally accepted, but visitors should ask before photographing craftsmen at close range. The library and mosque beside the square are not open to non-Muslims for entry, but their exteriors can be seen. Benches and a few cafes allow a short rest.