Dar Batha Museum

A 19th-century palace turned museum, Dar Batha holds the collection that explains Fes: the blue ceramics that made the city famous, the Berber carpets and embroidery, the wooden mashrabiya screens, the astrolabes and astronomical instruments from the Qarawiyyin. The palace was built for Sultan Moulay Hassan as a summer residence. The Andalusian gardens — citrus trees, geometric hedges, running water — are the best in Fes. In summer, the museum hosts concerts in the courtyard, continuing a tradition of royal entertainment. The ceramics collection is the highlight. Fes blue — a particular cobalt shade fired into the glaze — has been the city's signature since the 14th century. The pieces here range from architectural tiles to household vessels, all in variations of that unmistakable blue on white. Best time: Morning (gardens) or evening (concerts in summer) Allow: 1-1.5 hours Combine with: Bab Bou Jeloud and the medina entrance