If you visit Morocco, you should not only visit monuments and museums. You should reserve a part of your trip to enjoy the handicrafts, often made by the locals on the street.
Get lost in its squares, markets and souks, but do not forget to bring an empty space in your suitcase. Morocco is a great country for shopping and unique souvenirs.
One of the most outstanding local crafts is “marroquinería”, as we call the art of making leather products.
Tanneries, workshops and stores
The tanneries, workshops and stores are the places where you can enjoy the leather tradition. Each of them has a different function and therefore a different attraction.
Tanneries: This is where the process of making leather products begins. In the tanneries they clean and prepare the skins and then dye them in large colored tubs. You can visit them for a tip. There the workers will guide you and explain how they prepare the skins. It is true that they do not smell good, but they will give you a mint leaf to avoid the bad smell.
Nevertheless, it is a very interesting visit that you cannot miss. One of the most famous tanneries is located in Fez. You can visit it with our Morocco Imperial Cities tour package.
Workshops: In the leather goods workshops, the leatherworkers make different leather products: bags, belts, shoes, backpacks, wallets, etc… It is not very common to see this part of the process, but it is true that as we said before, there are some craftsmen who work on the street or in the same store where the products are sold.
Stores and stalls: You are going to find leather stores and stalls everywhere on your trip to Morocco. However, you can take advantage of your shopping to visit the most beautiful souks and medinas.
Keep in mind that in a very touristic city like Marrakech, handicrafts are more expensive than in other less visited cities. Don’t forget to bargain. Although in your culture it may not be normal or frowned upon, in Morocco it is seen as a way of socializing and arriving at the fairest price for both parties.
Cities in Morocco with tanneries
Even if the idea of visiting a tannery is not for you, where there are tanneries there are usually also handicraft workshops and quite a few stores. That is why we are going to tell you which are the most famous tanneries in Morocco:
Fez: In Fez are the Chouwara tanneries, which are the most famous in the country for its more than 1,000 years in activity. In Fez is where most people are encouraged to visit them.
Of course, there you will find many leather goods stores as well as other types of handicrafts such as porcelain, carpets, embroidery, mosaics, etc…
Don’t forget to explore its historic medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Marrakech: The tanneries of Marrakech are not easy to find and it is not a place frequented by tourists. If you want to see them, look for a local you trust or a guide who can take you there. The head of the tanneries will explain everything, but will ask for a tip for the workers.
Visit the Djemaa-El-Fna square and its beautiful souk, where you will find everything.
Tetouan: Although the tanneries of Tetouan are not as large or as active as those of Fez, their visit is still curious. In the morning is when you can see them at their best. They also have a large showroom where you can purchase their final product.
