Although some of the beauty of these palaces can still be admired, they could be in a better condition. Some local and international funds are helping the reconstruction of the old Medina houses, but tourism is not yet one of the authorities' priorities in the town of Fez.
One of the things that most positively surprised me while in Fez, was the absence of massive tourism. Maybe the sheer size of the medina diluted the hordes of travelers. Anyway, the absence of foreigners made the experience in the narrow streets of the old medina unique. I had the sensation not only of being in another country, but also in another century. The magic of the Medina was one of the highlights of my travel to Morocco.