The city of Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas in Morocco has long been known
for its incredible beauty, surrounded with oases that are beautiful and
rich, as well as its extensive history and deep culture.
With the city
having been populated for over two thousand years, this city has its own
mythology that coincides with many of the older Jewish traditions.
The
local legend states that after fleeing from the reign of King
Nebuchadnezzar, the Jewish people came to Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas, which
makes it no wonder that of the cities in Morocco, this was one of the
cities that fought against the Islamic conversion through the country.
If,
perhaps, you are interested in the more recent interests and
developments for the city, then the focus would have to be on football.
As of the 1990s, the city of Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas can boast that
Moustapha Hadji, the international star who is a home player for
Morocco, spent his time learning how to play while nestled between the
conifers of the city.
As time passed, the family is still enjoying that
renown, as Moustapha's younger brother, Yussuf, is also playing for
Morocco and has been a star player, giving more for Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas
to boast about.
The Footbridge
When in Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas,
people come to see the main sight of the city, which is right behind the
lovely and bustling main souk of the city.
This attraction is called
the Footbridge, and really takes you everywhere you need to be in the
city.
With the freedom to look around and observe, you will find
numerous places where sitting down with a camera will yield you some of
the most beautiful pictures you have ever seen.
Ifrane itself,
which is the small village the valley is named for, is an awesome sight,
filled with rich beauty and colourful niches.
The houses are richly
coloured--something out of Switzerland--and the people are both
incredibly welcoming and also fascinating and interesting themselves,
and trees tower and frame the village at every opportunity.
While the
village has monuments like any other place, the natural beauty is what
is really wonderful here, so be sure to actually take a few minutes to
have a seat somewhere and talk with those walking around you.
Children
enjoy following travelers around, and there is something very refreshing
about speaking to them.
One of the interesting places that you
can find after leaving Ifrane itself is the olive press just some way
down the road.
A local affair, only three men and a donkey run this
place, as the donkey brings the raw power needed for the men to spend
their entire day producing olive oil.
While they sell both locally and
outside of the valley, it is the humble yet brilliant aspect to the
small business that keeps one's attention.
After the olive press, a
climb up a slightly steep hill will bring you to another beautiful
landscape contrasting emptiness.
It is striking, jarring even, to look
behind to the way you have come and to see no real life or plant life,
but then to turn in front of you and see the lush and green of the
valley.
With more exploration into the areas of Ifrane
d'Anti-Atlas, you can find the Jewish quarters, now used by the local
Berbers, and even a Jewish cemetery that has mainly been taken over by
the natural foliage in the area once more.
One particularly
enjoyable trek to take throughout your trip to Ifrane d'Anti-Atlas is to
travel along the wadi, which is the seasonal river in the alley, and
take in the sights around you. With colours that contrast each other, it
is no surprise that any observant eye would find this to be a beautiful
place.
Accommodations
While Ifrane certainly has hotels,
there are some cafes in the area, the Café de la Paix, and an unnamed
one that is located near the mosque.
They will offer you a room for
cheap prices, and as far as dining is concerned, you will find some of
the best food at those two cafes located in the suuq. (Some) They do not
have a menu, but rather they will serve you on order, so it helps to
see what other people are ordering first.
All in all, Ifrane
d'Anti-Atlas has an extensive history, and visiting the city can be a
very rich and rewarding experience, with wonderful views and some
exceptional hiking.
With that being said, this is not the kind of trip
for someone unused to learning how to barter and communicate with
people, as it is not primarily a city for tourists.
For more information about Morocco holidays and information about
Morocco travel, please visit us at Journey Beyond Travel LLC.
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