Rissani: Market Day in the Old Caravan Capital

Thirty-five kilometres from Merzouga, Rissani is a small town with a big history. Here stood Sijilmassa, the great caravan city of the Middle Ages, where gold, salt and slaves from the Sahara were traded with the Mediterranean.

The market

The souk of Rissani is one of the most authentic in Morocco. The main market days are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. You find:

• Dozens of varieties of dates from the Tafilalet, the region’s treasure
• Spices, henna, dried roses and argan oil
• The animal market, with sheep, goats and donkeys
• Blacksmiths, tailors and sellers of baskets
• The famous ‘donkey parking’, where farmers leave their donkeys while they shop

The ruins of Sijilmassa

Little remains of the medieval city, only earth walls and gates, but standing among them you can imagine the caravans arriving from Timbuktu after weeks in the desert.

The mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif

Rissani is the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, the royal family of Morocco. The mausoleum of its founder has a beautiful courtyard (non-Muslims can visit the outside).

Taste the Berber pizza

Do not leave without eating medfouna, a bread stuffed with meat, onions, eggs and spices, baked in a clay oven.

How to visit

Rissani is included in our full-day 4×4 tour and in many tours, like the 3-day tour from Fez.