"Marrakech, one of the World ..." a Marrakesh Travel Page by boutahas

Marrakech or Marrakesh (both: märä'kĕsh, mə–) , city (1994 pop. 672,478), W central Morocco. The city, renowned for leather goods, is one of the principal commercial centers of Morocco and a major tourist center. It was founded (1062) by the Almoravid leader Yusuf ibn Tashfin and was the capital of Morocco from then until 1147 and again from 1550 to 1660. It was captured by the French in 1912.
Beautifully situated near the Atlas Mts., Marrakech has extensive gardens, ruins of a 16th-century palace, a former palace of the sultan that is now a museum of Moroccan art, and a royal necropolis (16th–18th cent.). The 253-ft (77-m) minaret (completed 1195) of the Koutoubia mosque dominates the city. The Université Ben Youssef, a center of Islamic studies, and a public university are in Marrakech.

Marrakech (مراكش marrākiš), or Marrakesh known as the "Pearl of the South," is a city in southwestern Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakech is a Berber word; it could mean the country of God (murt 'n akush), but this is unproven as there are many other interpretations [citation needed]. Marrakech is located at 31°37′60″N, 8°0′0″W Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also hosts the busiest square in the entire continent of Africa, called Djemaa el Fna.

Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech has two main divisions: the old city (médina) and the modern city.

Marrakech is served by Ménara International Airport.

Sites

Areas and neighborhoods
Médina
Casbah
Mellah
Modern city
Guéliz
Hivernage
Semlalia
Daudiate

Mosques, medrassas, synagogues and zaouias
Koutoubia Mosque
Ben Youssef Medrassa, Ben Youssef Mosque
Casbah Mosque/Mansouria Mosque
Bab Doukkala Mosque
Mouassine Mosque
Zaouia of Sidi Bel Abbès, Zaouia of Sidi Ben Slimane el Jazouli
Zaouia of Sidi Youssef Ben Âli
Sidi Moulay el Ksour Mosque
Synagogue Beth-El
Synagogue Salat el Azama
Synagogue Salat Rabi Pinhasse

Palaces, dars and villas
El Badi Palace
Royal Palace (Dar el Makhzen) and méchouars
Bahia Palace
Dar Si Saïd Museum
Maison Tiskiwin
Dar el Glaoui
Villa Majorelle at the Majorelle Garden

Cemeteries, koubbas and mausolea

Saadian Tombs.Saadian Tombs
Mausoleum of Ahmed el-Mansour
Second mausoleum
Koubba of Fatima Zohra and Koutoubia Mosque cemetery
Koubba el Baâdiyin
Koubba Cadi Ayyad
Jewish cemetery
Sidi Abd el Aziz
Sidi es Souheyli

Handicrafts and business

Selling of carpets in the souks of Marrakech.Souks
Souk Kimakhin (stringed instruments)
Souk el Bradiia (pitchers)
Souk Hadaddine (metalwork)
Souk Nahhassine (brass, copper)
Souk Chouari (basketry, woodturning)
Dyers' Souk, Wool Souk
Souk Smarine (clothing)
Rahba Quedima ("Old Square")
Souk el Kebir (leatherwork)
Kissarias
Souk el Batna (skins)
Souk el Maazi (goatskin)
Souk Zrabia (Criée Berbère, Carpet Souk)
Souk Fakharina
Souk Siyyaghin (jewelry)
Souk Smata (slippers, belts)
Souk aux tenturiers
Cherratine Souk
Attarine Souk

Tanneries of Marrakech.Tanneries
Hôtel la Mamounia
Handicraft center
Gidel Building
Renaissance Café
Société Générale
Marjane hypermarket

Museums
Dar Si Saïd Museum
Marrakech Museum
Bert Flint Museum at Maison Tiskiwin
Islamic Art Museum at the Majorelle Garden

Ramparts and gates

Bab Agnaou.Ramparts
Gates
Bab Debbagh
Bab Agnaou
Bab el Khémis
Bab er Robb
Bab el Jédid
Bab Doukkala
Bab Aghmat
Bab Nkob
Bab er Raha
Bab Aylen
Bab Ahmar
Bab Ighli
Bab Ksiba
Bab ech Charia
Bab el Makhzen
Bab Berrima
Bab Taghzout
Bab er Rharaza
Bab Fteuh

Places and squares

Djemaa el Fna in the evening.Place Djemaâ el Fna
Square Charles de Foucauld
Place de la Liberté
Place du 16 Novembre
Place des Ferblantiers
Place Youssef Ben Tachfine
Place Mourabiten

Gardens and parks
Palmery
Majorelle Garden
Ménara Garden and olive grove
Agdal Garden
Koutoubia Mosque park at Square de Foucauld

Other structures
Chrob ou Chouf Fountain
Convention Center (Palais des Congres)
Opera House
Cadi Ayyad University

Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Morocco

The official number of residents is 450,000; however, the population is estimated to be around one million. The largest part of the population of Marrakech is of Berber origin.

History
Main article: History of Morocco

Yusuf ibn Tashfin, member of the Almoravides dynasty, founded the city in 1062.

Prior to the reign of Moulay Ismail the Bloodthirsty, Marrakech was the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknès.