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Marrakech City Guide M A R R A K E C H C I T Y G U I D E H O M E & B R E A K F A S T I N M A R R A K E C H THE RED CITY GUIDE THE HIGH ATLAS & THE SAHARA DESERT also known as the Red city, is one of the historical ,( مراكش ) Marrakech imperial cities of Morocco. It was funded in 1602 by the Almoravids king Abu Bakr Ibn Omar and the name Marrakech comes from the Amazigh (Berber) words Mour (n) Akouch, which means “Land of God.” It’s the most touristic city of Morocco and lies not far from the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, but at the same time, it is a few hours from the foot of the Sahara Desert. This contrasting geographical situation grants to Marrakech incredible landscape: sable and snow, desert and lush valleys. THE MEDINA & THE NOUVELLE VILLE The city is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina, the ancient city, and the new European modern district Ville Nouvelle where Guéliz and Hivernage have place. The Medina is a labyrinth of intertwining narrow streets and local shops and markets full of story and character. On the contrary, Gueliz is full of modern hotels and restaurants, and also big brand stores and fast food chains are not missing. THE MONUMENTS There is much to see and do in Marrakech. An entire day can be dedicated to wandering around the souks, seeking out the best bargains, but the city offers also several historical and architectural sites as well as some interesting museums. Don't miss the storks fly over your head in many places of the medina! THE SAADIAN TOMBS Built at the end of XVI century, under the kingdom of the sultan Ahmed al-Mansur Saadi, and discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century, the mausoleum hosts the bodies of the Saadians in an ambience full of beautiful decorations made of cedar wood, marble and Zellije (Moroccan tiles). You can recognize the different tombs of Jews and Christians because of the presence of different markings and symbols. The good state of preservation of the Saadian Tombs may be attributable to the fact that they were sealed off by the sultan Moulay Ismail. At the time, Ismail was destroying architectural gems such as the Badi Palace, but some speculate that, when it came to the Saadian Tombs, his superstition got the better of him and he decided to hide rather than demolish them. THE EL BADI PALACE El Badi Palace, which means “The incomparable palace” was once the magnificent royal palace of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadi Dynasty. Having taken twenty five years to build, El Badi Palace was a lavish, grand sixteenth century complex of buildings with over 350 rooms, courtyards, gardens and a huge pool. Its construction was funded by a substantial ransom paid by the Portuguese after the Battle of the Three Kings. Around 1700 it was stripped of its ornamentation to furnish the palace of Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail in the new capital of Meknes. Unfortunately now is in ruins and inhabited by storks and stray cats, but the view from the terrace is still breathless. Visitors who get in through its gatehouse can view the remnant of much of this site. Some of the highlights include its sunken gardens, its subterranean passages and the Koubba el Khamsiniyya or “main hall”, which has fifty columns. THE BAHIA PALACE The Bahia Palace, whose name means "The beautiful", is an ornate and beautiful palace and a set of gardens, built in the late 19th century, by Si Moussa, grand vizier of the sultan, for his personal use, this palace would bear the name of one of his wives and intended to be the greatest palace of its time. There is a 2 acre (8,000 m²) garden with plants and flowers and 150 rooms opening onto courtyards. Though only a portion of the palace is open to the public, you can see the unfurnished, opulently ornamented harem that once housed Bou Ahmed’s four wives and 24 concubines. The quarters of his favorite, Lalla Zineb, are the most spectacular, with original woven-silk panels, stained-glass windows, intricate marquetry and ceilings painted with rose bouquets. Bahia’s story is an interesting one as a warlord Pasha Glaoui claimed the palace to entertain French who were so impressed that 3 years later, kicked out the Pasha Glaoui and turned the palace into the home of the protectorate’s résident-généraux. THE MEDERSA BEN YOUSSEF "You who enter my door, may your highest hopes be exceeded” reads the inscription over the entryway to the Ali ben Youssef Medersa, and after almost six centuries, the blessing still works its charms on visitors. It was founded during the period of the Merenids (14th century) by the sultan Abu al-Hassan and allied to the neighboring Ben Youssef Mosque, this Quranic learning center was once the largest in North Africa, and remains among the most splendid. The building of the madrasa was re-constructed by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574). In 1565 the works ordered by Abdallah al-Ghalib were finished, as confirmed by the inscription in the prayer room. Sight lines are lifted in the entry with carved Atlas cedar cupolas and mashrabiyya (wooden-lattice screen) balconies. The medersa’s courtyard is a mind-boggling profusion of Hispano- Moresque ornament: five-colour zellije (mosaic) walls, stucco archways, cedar windows with weather-worn carved vines, and a curved mihrab (eastern-facing niche) of prized, milky-white Italian Carrara marble. The carvings contain no representation of humans or animals, as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. It hosted 130 student dormitory cells cluster around the richly decorated courtyard, for a total of about 900 students. One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745). Closed down in 1960, the building was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982. THE KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE It was built during the XII century by the first sovereign of the Almohads family. This minaret which is the expression of an Hispano-Moresque architecture, is 77 meters tall and has 3 balls on the top which are the symbols of Water, Earth and Fire. Five times a day, one voice rises above the Jemaa din in the adhan (call to prayer): that’s the muezzin calling the faithful from atop the Koutoubia Mosque minaret. Excavations confirm a longstanding Marrakshi legend: the original mosque built by Almoravid architects wasn’t properly aligned with Mecca, so the pious Almohads levelled it to build a realigned one. When the present mosque was finished by Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour, 100 booksellers were clustered around its base, hence the name, from kutubiyyin, or booksellers. While the Koutoubia serves a spiritual purpose, its minaret is also a point of reference for international architecture. The tower is the prototype for Seville’s La Giralda and Rabat’s La Tour Hassan, and it’s a monumental cheat sheet of Moorish ornament: scalloped keystone arches, jagged merlons (crenellations), and mathematically pleasing proportions. The minaret was sheathed in Marrakshi pink plaster, but experts opted to preserve its exposed stone in its 1990s restoration. As with most mosques in Morocco, non-Muslims are not allowed inside. THE DAR MENEBHI MARRAKECH MUSEUM Dar Mnebhi Palace was built at the end of the 19th century by legendary Mehdi Mnebhi, it was carefully restored by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation and converted into a museum in 1997. The house itself perfectly represents classical Andalusian architecture, with fountains in the central courtyard, traditional seating areas, a hammam and intricate, beautiful tile-work and carvings. The museum holds exhibits of both modern and traditional Moroccan art together with fine examples of historical books, coins and pottery of Moroccan, Jewish, Berber and Arab cultures. THE DAR SI SAID ARTS & CRAFTS MUSEUM The Dar Si Said Museum in Morocco is housed in an opulent palace that is a delight to explore. The ground floor provides the perfect starting place and it is here that visitors can get better acquainted with splendid items from the past that are still very much in use today. Beautifully decorated weapons are presented side by side with splendidly decorative clothing and beaten copper articles while traditional Berber jewelry captivates and enchants. You can now make your way up to the first floor where you are greeted by strong Hispano-Moorish decorations and stunning cedar wood complete with intricate carvings. This reproduction of a salon is incredibly accurate and so you can easily picture a blushing bride, complete in ceremonial dress, making her way to the armchair as she prepares for her big day. Other rooms on this floor are filled with an amazing variety of carpets that originate from every corner of the globe. Some have made use of leather while others make use of textiles to create items that accurately reflect the regions that they come from. After exploring the second floor you might want to make your way outside to the small courtyard where you will find exquisitely decorated doors and window frames. The refined ornamentation on these items is delicate and beautiful and it makes one marvel at the level of pride and joy taken in building homes in the past. Taking such a journey through the past helps you to better understand just how much of the past is still used by the living when you make your way through the city streets – ancient traditions are kept very much alive, though perhaps the general outlook on such practices has changed somewhat.
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