SOUKS, SKIING AND THE SILVER SCREEN...

JUST nine miles from Europe, Morocco, like the UK, has a monarch (King Mohammed VI) and a Prime Minister. It’s about twice the size of the UK.

EVERY city and village has its own souk — open air markets selling anything from pots to rugs and spices. Two of the most famous are in Fes and Marrakech.

THE country has a fine cinematic pedigree —

Lawrence Of Arabia, The Man Who Would Be King, Gladiator and Inception were all filmed there. Funnily enough, Casablanca was not.

IT MIGHT be more famous for its Saharan dunes, but you can go skiing in Morocco at the Oukaimeden resort in the Atlas Mountains.

IN 1777, Morocco became the first country in the world to recognise the USA after it declared independence.