The medina in Safi dates back to the twelfth century so there are many elements of classic Islamic architecture everywhere including the arch. The arch was used for structural and decorative purposes. These early architects, influenced by the Byzantines, favoured greatly the horseshoe arch but I think the ones I saw in Safi are called ultra-semicircular ( I may well be wrong) !!! They create long arcades through the medina winding in many directions, all enhanced by daubs of blue paint, blue doors and blue sky.
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