One of the most impressive places of interest in Marrakech: the Koutoubia is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the western Muslim world. The minaret of 78 m of height is a work of Hispanic-Moorish art very similar to that of Giralda in Sevilla. The Bahia Palace was built at the end of the 19th century in a two-acre garden. It is a random arrangement of luxury secret apartments with interior patios.
For seven years, around a thousand artisans from the Fez region worked in this palace. The only sections open to the public are the apartments of the sultan’s favorite concubine, the council chamber/hall (with tiled walls and cedar ceilings lit) and the large central patio (paved with marble and decorated with tiles and fountains).
The Saadi tombs, with their delicate decorations and pure architectural lines, are considered by many as a beautiful feat of architecture. They were first built to house the tombs of Sultan Saadi, Ahmed el Mansour. In 1591 the first “koubba” (the dome on top of a mosque) of this cemetery was built south of the Casbah.
The Menara gardens over an area of 250 acres and full of olive trees, the gardens surround a large central lake that dates back to the 12th century and is fed by a network of irrigation canals. At the water’s edge there is a small pavilion of Saadi. With the snow covered peaks in the background, this is a breathtaking view when the night falls and the golden rays of the sunset hit the mountains.
And finally the PLAZA JEMAA EL FNA, which is the central square of Marrakech and the most important place in the medina. It develops the public life of Marrakech both day and night. The best of the Jemaa el Fna Square is the transformation it undergoes during the day.
During this city tour you will also visit the following:
BEN YOUSSEF MADRSSA, built in the 16th century was one of the most important Koranic schools. In it, the students lived in austere cells while finishing their religious studies. The most beautiful part of the visit confers in its inner courtyard with its architecture and mosaics, in harmony with the central pond used to perform the ablutions before the prayer. Here visitors will find an extreme tranquility, after having gone through the bustle of the streets of the Medina.
MARRAKECH MUSEUM, building open to the public since 1997. The Museum of Marrakech is one of the most interesting visits in the city. The main part of the museum is its patio (with a large lamp) and the rooms arranged around it. In these rooms the museum’s collection is exhibited, mainly composed of ceramics, weapons, carpets and other traditional Moroccan objects. Inside the building you can also visit the traditional hammam and a temporary exhibition hall.
The Souks of MARRAKECH, entering through the Jemaa el Fna square to the souk for its dozens of labyrinthine streets. Here you can buy all kinds of clothes, spices, food, crafts and typical products. In the souk you will find artisans grouped by guilds: dyers, basket makers and black smiths wich make the souks one of wonders of Marrakech.
