Located between the fertile plain of the Rarb and the Middle Atlas, Meknès and Volubilis lie at the heart of an agricultural area that has been Morocco’s grain store since ancient times. The historical importance of the two cities can be clearly seen in the ruins of Volubilis, capital of Mauretania Tingitana and the most important archaeological site in Morocco, as well as in the grandeur of the Moorish buildings in Meknès. From the time of its foundation in the tenth century to the arrival of the Alaouites in the 17th century, Meknès was no more than a small town over-shadowed by Fès, its neighbour and rival. It was not until the reign of Moulay Ismaïl, which began in 1672, that Meknès first rose to the rank of imperial city. With tireless energy, the sultan set about building gates, ramparts, mosques and palaces. This ambitious building programme continued throughout his reign and involved robbing the ruins of Volubilis and the Palais el-Badi in Marrakech. After 50 years, work was still not completed. Although the sultan’s impatience was often a hindrance, he reinvigorated palace architecture. Today, Meknès is the fifth-largest city in Morocco, with a population of 550,000. It is a dynamic economic centre, renowned for its olives, wine and mint tea. The imperial city stands alongside the new town, on the banks of Wadi Boufekrane.