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Al Badi Palace is one of the most famous monuments in Marrakesh. Its construction took 25 years to complete. When it was finished, it was said to be among the most magnificent palaces ever constructed, with walls and ceilings encrusted with gold and a massive pool with an island flanked by four sunken gardens. The ruins of this
once fabled palace provide a picturesque setting for nesting
storks.
Al Bahia Palace is the top preserved historical site of Marrakesh. The structure of the palace was projected to be the largest of its time. The construction reached the peak of architectural charm in 1900 after adding Private rooms, private gardens, harem section, wooden columns, marbel decorative elements and council rooms.
The medina’s central square is still populated with some extraordinary sights such as snake charmers, story tellers, monkey trainers, musicians and
colourfully-costumed water sellers.
The Koutoubia is one of the city’s oldest buildings, dating back to the 12th century, not long after Marrakech was founded. Its name means the Mosque of the Booksellers, which is a reference to a small market that once existed in the neighbourhood, where worshippers could buy copies of religious tracts. Its minaret is the city’s pre-eminent monument, towering above all else and has always been the first visible sign of Marrakech for travellers approaching
from afar.
In the city of Marrakesh, a renown tourist destination in Morocco, more and more visitors are strolling through the streets of the historic Jewish quarter. From 1558, the Jewish population of Marrakech was gathered in this district of 18 ha by order of the Saadian Sultan Moulay Abdallah.
Before the waves of departures generated by the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the independence of Morocco in 1956, the country hosted the largest Jewish community in North Africa, from 250,000 to 300,000.
Renamed Essalam (“peace”, in Arabic) some twenty years ago, the jewish quarter resumed its original name “El Mellah” at the beginning of 2017, on the instruction of King Mohammed VI, to “preserve the historical memory of the place” and “develop the tourist vocation” of Marrakech. The alleys with ocher facades have regained their plaque in Hebrew, the one that houses the synagogue has once again become “Talmud Torah”.
The Jewish quarter in Marrakesh includes the Lazama synagogue and the synaguogue of Ya’akov Attias. In addition, three covered souks are held at the Mellah: the spice, fabric and jewelry souk.
Built in the 12th century by Caliph Abdul-Mu’min of the Almohad dynasty, the Menara is a huge garden planted with olive trees, supplied with water by a revolutionary hydraulic system more than 700 years old. The menara is a peaceful place for meetings and walks, a haven of peace on the outskirts of the lively city of Marrakech. Access to cars is prohibited, which contributes to the calm of the menara. It used to be the only meeting place for lovers, which explains why the menara still exudes this feeling of romanticism today.
The Saadian Tombs are a historic royal necropolis in Marrakech, Morocco. They date from the time of the Saadian dynasty, and in particular the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). They are located immediately south of the Kasbah Mosque, inside the royal district of the city’s kasbah (citadel). Due to the beauty of their decoration, they are a major attraction for visitors to the ocher city.