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Spectacularly framed by the snow-dusted peaks of the High Atlas stands a city so intensely and wildly unpredictable you’ll wonder why on earth it’s taken you so long to discover it. A place that’ll bring you more exotic sights, enticing smells and new experiences than you’ll have room for in your memory. The Red City of Marrakech. A rich tapestry of cavernous souks and shimmying belly dancers, billowing hookahs and exotic spice merchants that will leave you spellbound. Cradled within the blush walls of the medina lies a tangle of timeworn streets that opens out on to the city’s throbbing heart, the world famous square, Jemaa el-Fna. Around this carnival of activity stretch the alluring alleyways of the souks, selling everything from herbs, spices and potions, to jewellery, carpets, leather and metalwork. With emerald green gardens offering peaceful pockets of relaxation, and treasures like Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian tombs begging to be explored, horse-drawn carriages waiting to whisk you off down winding streets and a mouthwatering cuisine to tempt the most picky of palates, there’s no wonder so many people return to this glowing city time and time again.
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Jemaa el-Fna
Sitting proudly atop most people’s sightseeing checklist is undoubtedly the city’s famous square – and it’s hardly surprising. Jemaa el-Fna dances. Its palms sway to the haunting song of the snake charmers’ flutes. Its performers step to the beat of the banging drum. Its onlookers move in rhythm to the showmen’s eager summons and infectious song. This is undoubtedly one of the world’s most extraordinary meeting places. A place where indifferent locals long-accustomed to the daily carnival rub shoulders with open-mouthed newcomers with eyes as wide as saucers. A place where you’ll be offered a shoe polish, a tooth removal, and a dish of freshly-prepared snail soup all in the time it takes to walk three steps. By day it’s little more than a bustling city square. But at the magical sunset hour, when the sky is streaked with swirls of flame red and deep violet, this enchanting spectacle begins to unfold. Turbaned snake charmers tease hypnotic moans from their flutes as cobras rise from the ground. Storytellers sit cross-legged as transfixed crowds gather round, straining to hear every word of their ancient folklore. Herbalists dish out magic potions, acrobats perform astonishing leaps, cooks serve up delicacies from hissing grills, and watermen roam, clanking gold cups and calling to the thirsty. Listen carefully, and beneath the flutes and drums you’ll hear the square reverberating with the gasps and cheers of astonished on-lookers. Shop for silks, sip mint tea, feast on freshly-grilled meat, and be swept up by this spine-tingling extravaganza that you’ll still be relaying tales about 20 years from now.
Koutoubia Mosque
Towering above the medina is the ancient minaret of Marrakech’s main landmark, Koutoubia mosque, finished by Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour in the 12th-century. According to legend, the golden balls that form its crown are made from the melted down jewellery of one of his wives – her penance for eating grapes during the Muslim fast of Ramadan. Though the mosque is closed to non-Muslims, a sunset snapshot of this extraordinary minaret against a sky streaked with colour is a photo album must.
El Bahia Palace
A building you can go inside is the lavish El Bahia Palace, whose name means ‘the Brilliance’. Spread over 8 hectares, ornate apartments have been built around colourful courtyards. You’ll see lavish reception rooms adorned with intricate wall panels and painted ceilings, plus the harem where vizier Bou Ahmed kept 24 concubines, and a peaceful garden studded with colourful citrus trees and swaying date palms.
El Badi Palace
El Bahia is not to be confused with El Badi Palace, the once glorious 16th-century creation of Saadian sultan Ahmed el-Mansour. One hundred years after it was built, Moulay Ismail ruthlessly stripped it of its grandeur in order to build Meknes, but the ochre-coloured walls, colourful gardens and impressive pavilions which remain today are well worth a look.
Saadian Tombs
The great sultan himself found his final resting place in the splendid Saadian tombs. Twelve magnificent marble columns support an intricate cedarwood roof inside Ahmed el-Mansour’s magnificent tomb, where he lies surrounded by his sons. Nearby lies the ornate mausoleum of his mother and sister, and that of his favourite wives, while dozens of his servants graves are scattered across the gardens outside.
Ben Youssef Medersa
Away from the tombs, the Ben Youssef Medersa is another one to tick off your list. The largest Koranic school in Morocco is a marvel of Moorish architecture, with rich and elaborate mosaics, ornate cedarwood ceilings, and intricate carvings from the Koran adorning the walls. The centrepiece is a huge, sun-dappled courtyard in the heart of which lies a peaceful pool overlooked by the students’ spartan rooms.
Jardin Majorelle and Menara Gardens
Of course Marrakech is a fast-paced city and you’ll probably hanker for a break from the busy streets, where the growl of car engines competes with the clatter of mules’ hooves and carts laden with oranges weave expertly in and out of the commotion. Fortunately the city is peppered with peaceful gardens offering welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of the medina which means you won’t have to look too far for a well-earned rest. Jardin Majorelle, founded by French painter Jacques Majorelle and now owned by fashion king Yves Saint Lauren, is an imaginative concoction of rustling palms, spiky cacti and towering bamboo, where the only sound likely to pierce the silence is birdsong. Meanwhile, Menara Gardens is another delightfully tranquil spot, popular with Moroccan families. Cradled in a blanket of silver olive groves is an elegant pavilion gazing out at a shimmering pool, where you can while away a lazy afternoon recharging your batteries.
High Atlas
Adventurers among you will relish a trip to Morocco’s breathtaking heartland, the High Atlas, where spectacular scenery and unspoilt villages await. Bon Voyage!
Useful links
www.arab.net/morocco/mo_marrakech.htm
www.visitmorocco.com
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| Luxuries: | DVD Player |
| General: | Central heating, Air conditioning, TV, CD player |
| Standard: | Iron, Hair dryer, Toaster, Kettle |
| Utilities: | Washing machine, Cooker, Fridge, Freezer |
| Rooms: | Bedrooms (2), Bathrooms (1), WCs (1) |
| Furniture: | Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 12, Sleeps maximum of 6 |
| Other: | |
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