The minaret, finely decorated, is the symbol of the city and resembles the Giralda of Seville. It overlooks the palm grove and is crowned with four bronze spheres. It reaches 77 meters high. Considered World Heritage by UNESCO, its restoration is included in a restoration project of the Jemaa el Fna square
Continuing along a wide avenue lined with palm trees or through the thousand alleys of the medina, you reach the legendary Jemaa el Fna square.
It is the meeting place for artisans and the soul of Morocco. It has a large esplanade surrounded by stands, the heart of the city and a meeting place for locals and tourists. It is difficult to find a comparison to this unique city where life is lively and where various events take place. Storytellers, acrobats, contortionists, wise men, tamers and sellers of all kinds, barbers and street dwellers perform the representation of their own characters every day. Many shops and restaurants on the street complete the colorful ambience and offer magnificent views, especially at sunset.
Street restaurant facilities have been restored with larger tables, comfortable benches and chairs, a hand washing system and other kitchen facilities that meet hygienic standards. These are fixed positions that do not move, but the restoration does not start until nightfall.
The Mellah is an 18 hectare quadrilateral. It housed 15,000 souls and was considered the largest in Morocco. It was surrounded by a wall with two doors, one giving access to the cemetery and the other to the city. Composed of Fondouks, synagogues and shopping streets, the Mellah was also a meeting place for good deals and is still there. By the way. This is where we find all natural beauty products, jewelry, fabrics and many other products.
The Jewish cemetery of Miaara dates from the 16th century and represents the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco. It is located next to the Muslim cemetery in Marrakech. In accordance with the “Minhaggim” (customs) specific to the Jews of Marrakech, this cemetery is divided into three sections, one for men, one for women, and one for children. It houses the tombs of important rabbis who have marked the history of Moroccan Judaism. There are different styles of tombs: all white, triangular Andalusian styles or more typical of imperial cities like Marrakech.
With its majestic pool, this 100 ha garden offers a romantic stroll at the start or end of the day. Numerous legends run on the history of the Menara basin: it would be the place where the Almoravide Abou Bekr, founder of the city, buried the booty collected during his campaigns or even a vast cemetery where the bones of the mistresses rest of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl. The original function of the basin was to store rain and mountain water. In these waters is reflected the Menara pavilion built by the Saadians in 1866.
If you visit the mosque of the Kasbah, it is strongly recommended getting inside the Saadian tombs. This historic royal necropolis is situated next to the mosque. It used to be under the reign of the Saadian dynasty (between 1524 and 1659). The historical place of Saadian tombs is an extremely important and interesting building to be visited by people, who are especially keen on history. Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, living and reigning at the beginning of the 18th century, ordered to destroy all the Saadian dynasty’s vestiges. Fortunately, the graves survived and the entrance was rebuild.
The botanical garden of Marrakech, the Majorelle Garden, is a unique place located in the Guéliz district. The author of this beautiful and breathtaking construction was French adventurer and painter, Jacques Majorelle. One day he decided to visit Marocco and stayed there forever. Living there, he created one of the most famous gardens in the whole world.
The El Badii palace was built between 1578 and 1603 by the Saadian sultan Ahmed Al mansour Dhahbi. At the time, it was considered one of the most majestic palaces in all of Morocco, with numerous treasures in each of the 300 rooms. Its name, which means the palace of the incomparable, suited him perfectly. Today, there is only a large courtyard planted with olive and orange trees, surrounded by gardens.
The Bahia Palace is one of the most important architectural works in Marrakech. It was built at the end of the 19th century in the hope of being the most impressive palace of all time.
The palace is spread over 8 hectares and hosts 150 rooms which overlook different interior courtyards and gardens. The most interesting part of the Bahia Palace is the harem of the 4 wives and 24 concubines of Abu Bou Ahmed.
The name of the palace means in French "le beau" or "la belle". Several theories exist around its meaning: it could be in reference to the palace or to the favorite woman of the vizier, the translation in this case would be "The Palace of Beauty".
