Explore the culture, history, and built form of Morocco’s fascinating cities from the perspective of anthropology. Dr. Sharon Nagy will draw on fieldwork in Morocco and across the Middle East to reveal how religious principles, cultural values, and history shape urban spaces—from Fez's ancient medinas to Marrakech's global transformation. Each standalone lecture provides practical knowledge for travelers (actual and armchair) and deeper insights into how Moroccan cities function as living social systems. Lectures may be taken individually or as a series.
Lecture 1: Mosque and Marketplace – The Soul of Moroccan Cities
Tuesday, April 28 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Cheezem Education Center | Tuition: $19 or register for all three lectures at a reduced rate of $39
Explore the twin hearts of traditional Moroccan cities: the mosque and the suq. Learn how religious and commercial life intertwined in the medina, why markets are organized the way they are, and what tourism is changing in these ancient spaces. Essential for understanding the medinas you'll explore.
Lecture 2: Behind the Doors – Public and Private Life in Moroccan Cities
Tuesday, May 5 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Cheezem Education Center | Tuition: $19 or register for all three lectures at a reduced rate of $39
Journey from public squares and hammams into the private world of the riad house. Discover how Moroccan architecture embodies values about family, gender, and hospitality—and what happens when these houses become boutique hotels. Especially valuable for those staying in converted riads.
Lecture 3: Morocco's Urban Crossroads – Tradition Meets the Global Age
Tuesday, May 12 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Cheezem Education Center | Tuition: $19 or register for all three lectures at a reduced rate of $39
Why does every Moroccan city have two parts? Examine the French colonial legacy, the heritage tourism boom, and contemporary debates about authenticity and preservation. Provides critical context for everything you'll observe on your tour.
Sharon Nagy, cultural anthropologist specializing in Middle Eastern and North African urbanism, with research and lived experience in Morocco, the Gulf States, Egypt, and Iran will lead these three lectures. She is offering this program as a precursor to the OLLI Corps: Culture, Conversation, and Community in Morocco in October 2026.
If you prefer to register for individual sessions, please click the titles below to register.
Lecture 1: Mosque and Marketplace – The Soul of Moroccan Cities
Lecture 2: Behind the Doors – Public and Private Life in Moroccan Cities
Lecture 3: Morocco's Urban Crossroads – Tradition Meets the Global Age