3/6/2016 Fantasia

F an tasia I n Mo r o c c o

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Morocco's Great Deserts Tr avel To Mor oc c o & Exp er i enc e a Mor oc c an Fantasi a H or se Mousseum
Morocco Lux ury Tours It consists of a group of horse riders, wearing traditional clothes and charging along a
Tours from Ma rra kech straight path at the same speed so as to form a line, at the end of the ride (about a two
Marrakech hundred meters) all riders fire in the sky using old gunpowder guns.The difficulty of the
Essaouira performance is synchronization during the acceleration especially during firing so that one
Ourika Valley single shot is heard. The two words in Arabic that describe the main events in the Fantasia
High Atlas Toubkal
are ‘harrga’ meaning a movement and ‘barood’ meaning gun-powder. The Fantasia horse and
Ouzoud Waterfalls
Ourigane Valley
is of type barb.
High Atlas Tichka
The performance is inspired from historical wartime attacks of Berber and desert knights.
Agadir
Today, Fantasia is considered as a cultural art and a form of martial art.
Safi
Lake Takerkoust Each region in Morocco has one or several fantasia groups, called serba, totaling thousands
of horse riders nationwide. Performances are usually during local seasonal, cultural or
Tour s fr om C asabl anc a religious festivals, also called moussem ('season' in Arabic).
Casablanca
Casablanca Jewish In most Islamic countries there is an important equestrian tradition based on the meaning of
Heritage the horse in the Islam. In Saudi Arabia there are Fantasias with “mehari” (riding camels) and in
Casablanca Art Deco
Algeria it is practiced as a collective equestrian game for great traditional celebrations. In
Rabat
this dance, battle rides are stimulated, interspersed with bursts of rifle shots. The dance
Tangier
highlights the nobility of the horseman and the mount. Performed by women from the high
Tour s fr om Fes mountains of Djurdura, the Kabyle dance celebrates the abundant harvest and olive
Fes collecting, where women express their joy prior to Fantasia. The dance is common
Meknes throughout the west of Algeria and is performed by men. The stamping of the feet which
Voubilis/ Walili accompanies the dance expresses a bond with the earth and the capacity to endure.
Moulay Idriss
Chefchaouen A Fantasia is best characterized as an event with a team of competing horses and
complemented by sounds of firing muskets; the latter is mostly done for tourists. Fantasia
Im p er i al C i ti es Tour horses are well bred and well groomed stallions whose bodies are complete muscle. No
Imperial Cities ordinary work horse is allowed to participate in the Fantasia. Furthermore, there is a Berber
saying that “only men and virgin women are allowed to ride these magnificent animals,” Map of Morocco
Tour s fr om Ouar zazate
because non-virgins may cause the stallion to loose its power and speed.
Ouarzazate
Aït Benhaddou This colorful display of horsemanship begins with a procession made up of women from the
The Oasis of Fint
Zayaan tribe on horseback. Traditionally, there is a procession of riders. First in line are the
Telouet Kasbah
virgin women of the Zayaan tribe; behind them are the village men. Next is the Aid el Baroud
Valley of Roses
Skoura (the Festival of Gunpowder). In this section, rows of armed horsemen lined up by rank press
Dadès Valley their knees forward, dig their heels into the girth, and then take up a fighting position by
Drâa Valley standing up in their stirrups. The horse riders charge along a straight path at the same speed
click to see large size
Gorge of Todra so as to form a line, at the end of the ride all riders fire in the sky using old a gunpowder gun
Mount Mgoun
called a moukahla. The difficulty of the performance is synchronization during the
Nkob
acceleration and especially during firing so that one single shot is heard.
Agdz Tour
Zagora & Dunes of Tinfo The performance reflects the strong relationship between man and horse as is perceived in
Lake El Mansour
Islam.  While each region in Morocco has one or several fantasia groups, called serba, if you
Imilchil
are a horse aficionado, Tissa will appeal to you the most. Located thirty-three kilometers PROUD MEMBER OF

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3/6/2016 Fantasia
from Taounate near the Rif Mountains, Tissa is the destination where horses and riders from ASTA
Tangi er Tour s the region gather to compete in an annual horse fair. The competition is judged on the speed,
Tangier discipline, and how the horse is outfitted.
Asiliah
You can also experience the Fantasia in Marrakesh, in the evenings outside the city walls near
Sahar a D eser t Tour s the Bab Jdid in the month of July. There’s also a restaurant called Chez Ali in the palmary of
Atlas - Drâa Valley - Marrakesh that offers Fantasia, as entertainment, with Berber song, dance and fireworks
Chegaga
while you dine over a traditional meal of miswhi (Moroccan roasted lamb) and couscous.
Merzouga
Tourists and horse fans across Morocco can also attend Fantasia in the coastal city of El
Mhamid
Atlas- Merzouga - Drâa
Jadida, 190 km south of capital Rabat. For the firs time this horse show was held from
Valley October 22-26 in 2008 under the theme “Pride and Passion.” The town was transformed into
Zagora a sight of medieval festivities, color and music.
Sahara Desert - High Atlas
Erg Chigaga Fantasia also referred to as the Aiin Aouda, Mock Horse-Back Battle, is an annual equestrian
Tea in the Sahara performance and celebration of traditional folklore that takes place in Meknes each July. This
horse-riding spectacle includes hundreds of charging horsemen (and women) wearing
Musi c Tour s traditional clothing. Fantasia is a perfect example of traditional folklore in Morocco. 
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