Research

Global Collaboraon : About Morocco & History/ Heritage

Researching into Morocco; Morroco is located in the NorthWest of Africa – It borders the edge of the African connent and is characterized by a rugged mountain interior and large porons of dessert. The of Morocco is and its major religion is . The main Cites Within Morroco;

• Rabat – The capital of Morocco; very relaxed and hassle-free, highlights include a 12th-century tower and . • – This modern city by the sea is a starng point for visitors flying into the country. If you have the me, both the historical and the contemporary (the third largest in the world) are well worth an aernoon • Fez – Fez is the former capital of Morocco and one of the oldest and largest medieval cies in the world. • – Marrakesh is a perfect combinaon of old and new Morocco. Plan to spend at least a few days wandering the huge maze of souks and ruins in the medina. The great plaza of Djeema El Fna at dusk is not to be missed although the sheer number and concentraon of tourists may be off pung for some. • – A laid back city that offers a welcome break from the tourist crush of neighbouring Fez. Was once an imperial capital and retains its extensive walls and an “old city” smaller yet similar to that of Fez. There are a number of vineyards in the area around Meknes. • Ouarzazate – Considered the Capital of the South, Ouarzazate is a great example of preservaon and tourism that hasn’t destroyed the feel of a fantasc and ancient city. • Tangier –Tangier is the starng point for most visitors arriving by ferry from . An enigmac charm which has historically aracted numerous arsts (Masse), musicians (Hendrix), policians (Churchill), writers (Burroughs, Twain) and others (Malcolm Forbes). • Taroudannt – A southern market town. • Tetouan – Nice beaches and is the gateway to the Rif Mountains. • Al Hoceima – Amazing city in the north of Morocco, with nice beaches and people, this place is a must visit for tourists from all around the world. History and Heritage of the people of Morroco; • Morocco’s percentage of people is referred to as Arab naon however Muslim and populaon makes up a percentage of it. Morocco has being highly influenced by a range of naonalies from being colonized by the French then giving/Sharing the land with the Spanish colony. Although history has influenced the colonizaon of Morroco today through the combinaon of different cultural influence the Berber people sll remain preserving their language and culture. Berbers usually live in mountainous regions in escape of cultural colonizaon.

Berber People: • The ‘Berber’ people are known to have been in since 3000 BC. The Berber people are so important to Morroco as sll withstanding their tradions in ‘free’ way of life. Berber people highly influenced the ‘handmade’ tradional craing in Morroco as their only source of income – Berber women not only inspire hand woven techniques through rug making – they highly influence cultural differences as wearing highly decorave garments which has inspired many designers to represent designs into the European markets.

Tradional Berber Women Marrakesh/ Places to visit

Marrakesh is the fourth largest city in the Morroco – Marrakesh is said to be the most chaoc cies in the world. The city gently eases you into Moroccan culture by offering European styled cafes alongside the bustling souks and Moroccan restaurants. Marrakesh is known for its chaoc atmosphere and the aenons to details to mosaics – to herbs and spices through to arts and cras.

Advised/Best Places to Visit whilst in Marrakesh –

(Taken From Lonely Planet – hp://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/marrakesh/things-to-do/top-things-to-do-in-marrakesh) Sightseeing

Atlas Mountains – Mountains surrounding Marrakesh – Camel Rides/Climbing/Skiing acvies available.

– D’Jemaa-el-Fna Square – Dedicated to arsc performances. In the evenings, the square really comes alive with musicians playing mandolins, drums, guitars, and many other instruments. It is evident from these performances that Morocco sits at the crossroads of many historically influenal civilizaons; the music is usually a blend of Spanish, Arab, Berber and African styles. (Can enter Souks from the Square).

– – – The – Floor-to-ceiling decoraon begun by Grand Vizier Si Moussa in the 1860s and embellished from 1894 to 1900 by slave-turned-vizier Abu ‘Bou’ Ahmed. Original woven-silk panels, stained-glass windows, intricate and ceilings painted with rose bouquets. Reflects true Moroccan culture.

Maison Tiskiwin – Maison Tiskiwin is situated in a in the Southern Medina. Housing the Berber and Saharan artefact collecon of the Dutch anthropologist, Bert Flint, the riad itself is very interesng with each room containing carpets, costumes, etc. Shopping:

• Medina and Souks – Temptaon awaits at each corner. Be thrilled by the explosion of noise, colours and aromas that awaken the senses. And be in awe of the crasmanship and pride invested into making those pieces of art, be it jewellery, carpets, lamps or trinkets.

• Lahandira – (Sidi Ishak Fondouk Namous No. 100 El Rahba El Kadima | The Store Is Inside the Building on Your Le Side When You Get in, Marrakech, Morocco) – History of rug making. Rugs shown in different lighngs and environments, Contains a wide range of texle rugs all handmade.

• Rue Market – (Rue Bab Doukkala, Marrakech, Morocco) – Market like building with stores which sell ranges of accessories through to clothes, interior, fashion and Moroccan texles.

• 33 Rue Majorelle – (Yves Saint-Laurent, Marrakech 40000, Morocco) – Insight to interdependent designers of Morocco and influence from west European designers. Musuems:

• – Yves St.Laurent Gardens – – Garderns full of exoc plants designed by Yves St Laurent –

• – Ben Youssef – Well preserved or restored historic Quranic teaching school set in the old town Medina of Marrakesh. A real maze of rooms with beauful carvings and geometric window designs. in Marrakech – Paerning inspiraon.

• – Dar Si- Said – A solid exhibion of historic and some contemporary Moroccan art. The building itself is full of intricate Byzanne designs and colours.

• – Maison de la Photograhie – 4500 photos, 2000 glass negaves and 80 documents dang from 1870 to 1950; select works on view here fill three floors, organised by region and theme, and include a rare, full-colour 1957 documentary shot in Morocco. Research for my Morocco Inerary

Bahia%Palace!"!5!Rue!Riad!Zitoun!el!Jdid,!Marrakesh!40000,!Morocco.!

Tel:!+212!5243"89511!!"!Website:!www.palais"bahia.com!

Hours:!8:00!am!–!6:00!pm.!Closed!Friday.!

Adult!Admission:!Dh10.!

The!Bahia!Palace!is!a!palace!and!a!set!of!gardens!located!in!Marrakesh,!Morocco.!It!was!built!in!the!late!19th!century,! intended!to!be!the!greatest!palace!of!its!time.!The!name!means!"brilliance".!

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Saadian%Tombs%2!Rue!de!La!,!Marrakesh,!Morocco.!

Tel:!+212!627"286742!

Hours:!8:00!am!–!4:00!pm.!Open!Every!day.!

Adult!Admission:!Dh10!

The!Saadian!tombs!in!Marrakech!date!back!from!the!time!of!the!!Ahmad!al"Mansur.!The!tombs!were!discovered!in! 1917!and!were!restored!by!the!Beaux"arts!service.!

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Dar%Si%Said!"!Riad!Zitoun!Jdid,!Marrakesh,!Morocco.!

Tel:!+212!5243"89564!

Hours:!9:00am"4.45pm.!Closed!Tuesdays.!

Adult!Admission:!Dh10!

Located!in!a!19th!century!palace,!the!Musée!Dar!Si!Said!is!regarded!as!one!of!Morocco’s!most!eloquent!tributes!to!the!skills! of!its!master!craftsmen.!Exhibition!rooms!are!filled!with!a!wealth!of!items!showcasing!some!of!the!finest!examples!of! Morocco’s!rich!arts!and!crafts!heritage.! ! !

Jardin%Majorelle!"!Rue!Yves!Saint!Laurent,!Marrakesh,!Morocco.!

Tel:!+212!5243"01894!

Website:!www.jardinmajorelle.com!!Email!:[email protected]!

Hours:!8:00!am!–!5:30!pm.!!

Adult!Admission:!Garden:!50!Dhs,!Museum:!25!Dhs!(30!Dhs!for!Garden!only!with!valid!student!card)!

The!Majorelle!Garden!is!a!twelve"acre!botanical!garden!designed!by!artist!Jacques!Majorelle!containing!exotic!plants,! water!features!&!a!museum!of!Berber!culture.!The!garden!took!40!years!planning/designing!to!create!the!heart!of! Marrakech!natures!landscape.!

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Djemaa%el%Fna%Square!–!Jemaa!el!Fna,!Marrakech,!Morocco.!

Hours:!approx!9am"1am.!

!The!center!of!the!city,!where!snake!charmers,!acrobats!and!tattoo!artists,!and!the!smell!of!the!moroccan!cuisine!in!the! street!attract!a!large!crowd,!which!then!redirects!to!the!souks!and!small!stalls!of!!the!marabouts.!

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! Koutoubia%Mosque!"!cnr!Rue!el"Koutoubia!&!Ave!Mohammed!V.!

Hours:!Mosque!&!minaret!closed!to!non",!Gardens!open!8am"8pm.!

Adult!Admission:!No!admission!price!is!charged!for!gardens.!

The!Koutoubia!Mosque!or!Kutubiyya!Mosque!is!the!largest!mosque!in!Marrakesh,!Morocco!surrounded!with!beautiful! gardens.!

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The%Madrasa%of%Ben%Youssef!!"!Kaat!Benahid,!Marrakech!40000,!Morocco.!

Tel:!+212!524!44!18!93!! web:!www.musee.ma!E"mail:[email protected]!

Hours:!9:00am"6:00pm!winter,!to!7:00pm!summer.!

Adult!Admission:!Dh50/30,!with!Musee!de!Marrakesh!Dh60.!

!The!Koranic!school!in!Marrakech,!the!most!recognized!of!all!the!.!16th"century!college!building!with!prayer!hall! and!courtyards!decorated!with!!and!carved!wood.!!

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! Research into Local Cras/ Tradional Moroccan Produce/Processes.

• Leather Produce – Marrakesh Fez Tanneries – Marrakesh (Fez) Leather Souk and the oldest leather tannery in the world. The tannery dates back at least nine centuries. Here leather is produced and sold to local crasmen who produce items which are then sold in the souks.

Leather Produce which can be purchased in the souks; Bags, Slippers, Wallets, Belts, Diaries, Notebooks, Purses. • Wood Carving – Wood carving is a product that you will come across throughout Morocco. Decorave wood and housing pieces are made from walnut trees which are grown in the local village. Great crasmanship is shown through engraving – shaping – and carving into fing tradional Moroccan designs. Technique done with spinning wood securing with presser off feet.

Produce – Chess board games, Honey srrers, Jewellery boxes, Spoons, Kitchen cutlery, Door handles, Stair cases.

• Metalwork and Blacksmithing – The blacksmiths in Marrakech are extremely talented. They create beauful lampshades in pierced sheet metal-work, metal grilles used for windows and mirrors, and intricately paerned swirling designs for special dining tables and chairs. Some metal-workers produce beauful silver and gold coloured sinks and mirrors by beang a single piece of metal into the exact shape. Others cast metal into taps which are then etched with tradional Berber designs and embellished with bands of copper or bronze. Moroccan metalwork is totally different from what you may have experienced in the UK. They rarely use a furnace and tend to work the metal when cold then make joins and fabricaons using a spot welder.

Produce – Mirrors, Lamps, Bathtubs, Sinks, Bowls, Copper items, Steel items,Metal decorave Discs.

• Tiles & Mosaics. Morocco is well known for its Tadelakt which is unique to the region, it’s basically a form of plaster made from the local limestone which is mixed with egg white and natural dyes to form a unique colour. Aer leaving it for about two weeks it’s covered in a special black soap which has the effect of giving it a shiny appearance and making it water resistant. When added a glaze these plaster works can then be developed into decorave ceramics which are known to shape tradional moroccan design culture.

• Weaving. Weaving for carpet/rug produce. The intricate designs and colours are spectacular. Rugs are usually paently woven by hand especially those purchased from the mountains. A medium size rug can take about a week to produce with aenon to the tradional Berber paerns as well as those with a more Islamic feel to them. • Poery –There are les, tagine pots and beaufully coloured bowls in the Moroccan souks. Most are hand made and glazed and have the most wonderful shades and designs. The designs are influenced by various cultures from Roman to Berber and Arab. The best ceramics are seen in Fez which is renowned for its use of cobalt oxide in many shades of blue. Several of the geometric designs are really complex and are tradionally passed from father to son. • Wool Dyeing – Wool which is dyed and hung through the souks. Sold to local crasmen who produce into jackets, rugs, cushions.