Forget Me Not: 5 Reason to Remember Marrakech

Posted by Jude Buttle on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Home to palaces, tombs and bath houses, Marrakech is brimming with religious buildings and labyrinth markets, making it a great place to visit if you're ever on a Moroccan holiday.

Koutoubia Mosque

1. Djemaa el Fna

Djemaa el Fna is a square and market place in Marrakech's medina quarter (old city).

During the day the place is bursting with orange juice sellers, entertainers with Barbary apes and snake charmers.

The square is edged along one side by the Marrakech souk, the traditional North African markets which service both the locals and the tourist trade.

As the afternoon draws in, the square becomes more crowded with healers and henna tattoo artists joining the parade.

When dark descends the crowds are at their fullest and the square fills with dozens of food stalls, Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines.

The cafes around the square are ideal places to relax and observe the Gnaoua drummers, male belly dancers and Berber musicians. The softly lit food stalls create a beautifully sensuous and exotic atmosphere.

2. Saadian Tombs

The Saadian tombs, alongside the Kasbah Mosque, date back from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603).

The tombs had been sealed for centuries and were only discovered fairly recently (in 1917) when General Lyautey - his curiosity awakened by an aerial survey of the area - ordered a passageway to be made to the tombs, which have since been restored.

The tombs were originally the privileged burial place of the sheriff, the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed. However, nowadays the mausoleum contains the corpses of many of the Saadi Dynasty that ruled much of southern Morocco in the 16th and 17th Centuries, often successfully waging war against Portuguese invaders.

The graves are made of Italian Carrara marble and outside the building is a garden, which is the burial site for a number of soldiers and servants.

3. Koutoubia Mosque

One of Marrakech's main landmarks, the Koutoubia Mosque is the largest of its kind in the city (69 metres - 221 feet in height) and its name is derived from the Arabic al-Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by manuscript sellers.

The minaret was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199) and was used as model for the Giralda of Seville and also for the Hassan Tower of Rabat.

The green tiles are a typical feature of Islamic architecture and each side of the minaret is decorated with different carved stonework panels and engravings.

It is built in a traditional Almohad style and the tower is adorned with four copper globes. Legend has it that three of the globes were gold and the fourth was added by the wife of Yacoub el-Mansour when her jewellery was melted as a penance for failing to fast during a day of Ramadan.

4. The Bahia Palace

Built in the late 19th Century and intended to be the greatest palace of its time, the Bahia Palace was home to the Grand Vizier of Sultan Ahmed Ibn Moussa.

Its name translates to 'The Brilliant,' and as with other buildings of that period in other countries, it was intended to capture the essence of both the Islamic and Moroccan styles.

The Palace follows the patterns of typical Islamic architecture, with central courtyards and numerous rooms leading off the main entrance. Fountains and gardens are also typical features, along with the decorative stucco panels, tiled floors and polychrome zellij (mosaic) work.

Part of the palace is closed to visitors as it is still used by the Royal family and the attractive, well preserved, Harem Courtyard has featured in many big budget blockbusters.

5. Hammam - Bath Houses

Marrakech is awash with Hammams, presenting opulent settings and relaxing offerings.

Descended from Roman baths and a template of Turkish ones, the hammams were originally patronized by Moroccans whose homes lacked indoor plumbing.

The baths are also rooted in the Islamic ritual of ablution, where Muslims wash distinct parts of their body before their daily prayers.

The hammmas have now morphed into social soaking centres, with gleaming walls, flowing faucets, tiled rooms, exfoliating scrubs, essential oils and mud masks.

Popular bath houses include the ultramodern Les Secrets De Marrakech, in Guéliz, which is an ostentatious Art Deco villa; and the Sultana Spa, which houses magnificent marble floors and majestic archways.

Conclusion

Move over New York; vibrant Marrakech really is the city that never sleeps, and its rich heritage and buzzing night life make it easy to see why it's one of North Africa's main attractions.

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Photo by OliverN5

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Forget Me Not: 5 Reason to Remember Marrakech

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