Zaouia of Moulay Idriss II (exterior)

The Zaouia of Moulay Idriss II is the shrine of Idris II, the Idrisid ruler who established Fes el-Bali as his capital in the early 9th century, and it stands in the Derb Chorfa quarter of the medina in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. Idris II, a great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson through the Idrisid line, ruled from about 807 and died in 828. His tomb was forgotten for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1308 under the Merenid sultan Abu Said Uthman II, who ordered a shrine built over it. The existing complex was largely rebuilt in the early 18th century by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail, after a period of neglect, and has been restored repeatedly since. The zaouia is a place of pilgrimage and is considered a sanctuary, so the surrounding streets are lined with candle sellers and vendors of incense and offerings. The exterior is marked by a green-tiled pyramidal roof, a richly decorated entrance with carved cedar, plaster and zellige, and a wooden beam (the horm) set across the lane in front of the door, which historically marked the boundary of the sacred precinct and was the point beyond which animals and non-Muslims were not allowed. The interior houses the tomb chamber, with a silver and carved wood catafalque and an ornate ceiling; this area is closed to non-Muslims, but the doorway can be seen from the barrier. The shrine is the focus of the annual moussem, a pilgrimage festival, and women who wish for children come to pray here. The sanctuary is central to Fassi identity, connecting the city to its founding dynasty, and the nearby quarter retains a quiet devotional atmosphere. Visitors typically spend 10 to 15 minutes taking in the doorway and surrounding streets.