32 Hidden College Campuses That Look Like Something Out of a Dream

18. Al-Qarawiyyin University (Fez, Morocco): Oldest Working University?

Considered by UNESCO and others as likely the oldest existing, continually operating university in the world (founded 859 AD), Al-Qarawiyyin is unique because it's deeply integrated within the labyrinthine Fes el Bali medina. Originally a mosque and madrasa complex, its library houses ancient manuscripts. While access for non-Muslims to the prayer hall is restricted, glimpsing its historic courtyards and understanding its role as a foundational center of Islamic scholarship, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the ancient city, feels profoundly enigmatic.