Imperial Cities of Morocco— Marrakesh (Part I)
Our previous trip ended in the ancient city of Fez. We now move onto our next destination Marrakesh/Marrakech. I would like to call this one the city of Gardens, as you will find numerous beautiful garden across the city. This is also one of the major cities in Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country. The city is reminiscent of the imperial culture that reigned after the city’s inception in 1062.
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The city was overtaken by Fez in terms of popularity for a period of time. But Wealthy Saadian sultans Abu Abdallah al-Qaim and Ahmad al-Mansur made the city beautiful by embellishing royal palaces. One of these palaces is the El badi Palace. They also restored many other ruined monuments that regained the beauty of the city. Let us take a look at the must visit places in the city.
Majorelle garden
The garden laid out on two and a half acres of land is nothing less than an art. Why not? The garden was made by a French orientalist artist named Jacques Majorelle. The villa, which was the residence of the artist now houses the Islamic Art Museum. It is a site of artistic abundance
Koutoubia Mosque
The Mosque located in the southwest quarter of Medina. Decorated with ceramic inlay, merlons, designer arches and curved windows the Mosque exhibits beauty from every angle. The site is a must visit during the night time as it lights up in colours. The Mosque also has a plaza with gardens.
Menara Gardens
Yet another garden complex that exhibits an artificial lake with orchards and olive groves surrounding it. Also, the garden gets its name from the pavilion that hosts a pyramid shaped roof. The name Manara means Lighthouse.
Agdal gardens
If you are a florist or a flora lover, you are going to love this city. As i mentioned earlier the city is full of decorative gardens. Its name is derived from the Berber word, which means “Walled Meadow”.
Bahia Palace
Yet another site with its own set of gardens. The name itself means “Brilliance” . The building is made in Islamic Moroccan architecture. Don’t forget to explore the beautifully decorated ceilings, multicoloured vitrage, the library and also check out the designer columns.
Saadian Tombs
This is a must visit place in Marrakech. The tombs represent the Saadian Dynasty of Ahmad Al-Mansur. The tombs are worthy of the dynasty that beautified the city.
El Badi Palace
We wrote about the Palace earlier in this article, so we had to include this one on our list. The Palace is another representation of the Saadian Dynasty. The structure was originally built using costly items like gold, onyx and marble. The complex has a central pool , as well. How cool is that for an ancient structure like itself?
Almoravid koubba
The structure was created by the Almoravid dynasty around the 12th century. Upon entering this beautiful structure, the first thing that will catch your attention is the carvings on the walls. The designs are so intricate, it is hard to imagine the skills of the one’s that made it.
These are some of the best places that you must include in your itinerary once you set your world travel goals.
