The coppersmiths
Big cauldrons, trays, pans and lanterns, stacked against the walls and hammered into shape in the open.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Place Seffarine, the coppersmiths' square
A small triangle of Fes el-Bali where metalworkers still hammer copper cauldrons under a plane tree, a few steps from the Qarawiyyin. Around it: the Saffarin Madrasa, completed in 1271, and the restored Hammam Saffarin. Most of our medina walks pass through it.
- Licensed Fassi guides
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your date
What's on the square
The square is named after the saffarin, the coppersmiths, who have worked here for centuries.
The Saffarin Madrasa
The first madrasa the Marinids built in Fes, completed in 1271. It's plainer than Bou Inania or Attarine and still houses students of al-Qarawiyyin. Its doorway opens onto the square.
Hammam Saffarin
An old public bathhouse on the edge of the square, restored with carved stucco, a brass chandelier and a zellige fountain in its reception hall.
The Qarawiyyin, next door
The mosque and university of al-Qarawiyyin are just to the north. Non-Muslims can't go in, but your guide will show you where to look through its doors.
You hear Place Seffarine before you see it.
Place Seffarine, FesSeffarine on a medina walk
How the square fits into a morning in Fes el-Bali with one of our guides.
Mid-morning
From the Qarawiyyin to the square
The lanes around the mosque open suddenly onto the square, and the noise starts.
A few minutes
Watch a cauldron take shape
Your guide introduces you to the metalworkers. Ask before taking close-ups.
Next door
Inside the old bathhouse
A look at the restored reception hall of Hammam Saffarin, if it's open.
Then
Down to the tanneries
From Seffarine it's a short walk to the Chouara tannery and its terraces.
Seffarine questions
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Where is Place Seffarine in Fes?
Place Seffarine is in the heart of Fes el-Bali, just south of the Qarawiyyin Mosque and a few minutes' walk from the Chouara tannery. It's easy to miss among the lanes, so most people reach it with a guide on a medina walk.
What is the Saffarin Madrasa?
The Saffarin Madrasa opens onto the square. It was completed in 1271 under the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Ya'qub, the first madrasa the Marinids built in Fes, and it still houses students of al-Qarawiyyin. It is plainer than the later Bou Inania and Attarine madrasas.
Can you buy copper and brass on Place Seffarine?
Yes. The metalworkers make and repair cauldrons, trays, lanterns and pans, and some will sell you a piece or show you how they work. Ask before taking close-up photos of the craftsmen at work.
Is Place Seffarine noisy?
During working hours, yes: the hammering is the reason to come. Visit mid-morning to see the most work going on. By evening the square is quiet.
See Seffarine with a Fassi guide.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.