Djemaa el Fna (Place of the Dead)
Marrakech
Djemaa el Fna is the hub of daily life in Marrakech, and this town square is as much a focus for the local people as it is for the tourists who flock here to find their bearings and watch the daily spectacle unfold. The square leads in to the medina, or old quarter, where the famous souks, or bazaars, can be found. At night, the square comes alive and turns into an open-air stage filled with acrobats, storytellers, snakecharmers and musicians. There are literally hundreds of food stalls to choose from, selling anything from hearty harira soup and couscous to grilled meats and french fries. All this is not merely a show for the tourists either – the entertainers who perform here do so to earn a living, and are carrying on a centuries-old tradition that remains a fundamental part of Marrakech life.
Ali Ben Youssef Medersa
Marrakech
North Africa's largest such institution, the medersa is an extraordinarily well preserved 16th-century Koranic school. As many as 900 students from many Muslim countries studied here, and many lived in the tiny, upper-level rooms that look like monks' cells, arranged around inner courtyards. The building was originally built in the 14th century by the Merenids in a somewhat different style than that of other medersas; later, in the 16th century, Sultan Abdullah el Ghallib, of the famously refined Saadians, rebuilt it almost completely, adding the incredibly refined Andalusian details in the carved cedar, gibs (stucco plasterwork), and zellij (mosaic) so pronounced here.
The large main courtyard, framed by two columned arcades, opens into an elaborately decorated prayer hall that features rare palm motifs as well as the more customary calligraphy of Koranic texts. The medersa also contains a small mosque, whose beautiful carved cedar, gibs, and zellij remain in good condition.
COST: 10 DH.
OPEN: Daily 8:30-noon and 2:30-6.00
Medina of Marrakesh
Marrakech
Founded in 1070–72 by the Almoravids, Marrakesh remained a political, economic and cultural centre for a long period. Its influence was felt throughout the western Muslim world, from North Africa to Andalusia. It has several impressive monuments dating from that period: the Koutoubiya Mosque, the Kasbah, the battlements, monumental doors, gardens, etc. Later architectural jewels include the Bandiâ Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian Tombs, several great residences and Place Jamaâ El Fna, a veritable open-air theatre.
Koutoubia Mosque
Marrakech
Towering like a sentinel over Marrakesh and visible from 29 km (18 mi) away, this Moorish mosque was built in the early 12th century on the site of the original 11th-century Almoravid mosque by the Almohad sultan Abdel Moumen, who then used it as a model for the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Seville. It was eventually completed toward the end of the 12th century by Yacoub el Mansour, the third Almohad sultan. Considered a jewel of Islamic architecture, the mosque took its name from the Arabic word for book, koutoub, because there was once a book market nearby. With a square minaret that rises 230 ft, the mosque is visible from a great distance in every direction; and the minaret is topped by three golden orbs, which, according to local legend, were offered by the mother of the Saadian sultan Ahmed el Mansour Edhabi as a penance for fasting days she missed during Ramadan. Fresh from an extensive late-1990s face-lift, the mosque now has a large plaza, walkways, and gardens as well as floodlights to illuminate its curved windows, a band of ceramic inlay, pointed merlons (ornamental edgings), and various decorative arches.
Musée de Marrakech
Marrakech
This museum is housed in one of the many mansions once owned by the illustrious Mnebhi family and is run by the association Les Amis de Marrakesh (Friends of Marrakesh), which holds exhibitions of paintings and other artifacts owned by local art collectors. Some paintings are for sale. The museum also has a good bookstore and a café.
