Djemaa el Fna and other Marrakesh, Morocco Things to Do Tips

The heart and life of Marrakech, Djemaa el Fna is where everything happens! This enormous square occupies a central position in la Médina, the old city of Marrakech, and is the converging point of many of its streets and souks. It is an amazingly animated square, which is part theatre, part open-air restaurant, and part souk. It comes most alive in the evening when all the food sellers set up stalls for dinner. They cook harira soup, kebabs, tagines and other dishes in front of their clients for immediate consumption along tables and benches. Not too distant in the square, snakes and their charmers, monkeys, story tellers, orange juice vendors, drummers, and musicians all congregate and offer their services to the masses. Tourists are prime targets for them, but locals come here too. Beware, even taking pictures could cost you dirhams! The energy and sounds of Djemaa el Fna are just impossible to describe in words...

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Address: Place Djemaa el Fna

Situated at the converging point of many trade routes, Marrakech has thrived from its founding as a merchant town. Its souks are thus the largest in Morocco. While the entire Medina is dotted with interesting shops, the main souk area is situated between Djemaa el Fna and Medersa Ben Yousef, right in the heart of the Medina. It is divided into several souks, each with its own name and specialty product, and most of the merchandise is beautiful artisanal products of Morocco. For the first time visitor, the souk can be overwhelming. It is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, some of which are covered, with tiny shops selling clothes, spices, shoes, jewellery, and countless other items. The souk stimulates all the senses by its bright colours, fascinating sights, spicy scents, unusual noises, intriguing people, etc. Tourists are often approached by shopkeepers to entice them into buying, and after several discussions, it could get exhausting, so beware. It is best to allow oneself to get lost in the souk with no time constraints, for every shop will have something fascinating to examine. Making a purchase can be a fun experience as one is expected to barter heavily, often settling the purchase at only a small fraction of the original price. Ask for tea with mint, it could take a while... [take a look at the photos to see some of the colours!]

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The Koutoubia Minaret is the uncontested symbol of Marrakech, and the highest structure in the city. At 77 metres, no building is allowed to exceed its height, even today. It was added to the original Koutoubia Mosque in the late 12th century and is the only remaining structure from the old mosque, which was torn down shortly after its completion because it was not properly aligned with Mecca. The minaret is believed to have been entirely covered in tiles in its early days. La Koutoubia's resemblance to Seville's la Giralda is no accident as it served as a model for Seville's minaret.

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Address: la Medina

Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in Marrakech, derives its name from "books" due to the sellers of manuscripts who used to be stationed by the mosque. It was first built by Almohad dynasty in the middle of the 12th century, over the remains of an older Almoravides-period palace, but was quickly destroyed and rebuilt as the original structure was not correctly aligned to Mecca. The minaret was added in the second half of the 12th century and served as a model for la Giralda in Seville, a testament to the importance of Marrakech and its architecture. The simple architectural style of the mosque is typical of the period, which is a contrast to the highly ornate style of the later Saadian period. Tourists are not permitted to enter the mosque, and photographing the inside is not tolerated either (I had to snap quickly while standing outside).

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Next to the Koutoubia Mosque is a vast park planted with palm trees and rose bushes. It is a great place for relaxing from the intensity of the medina, and for enjoying the views of the Koutoubia Minaret. This park is adjacent to the famous Mamounia Gardens, which, at the time of my visit, were closed for renovation.

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Bab Agnaou is the most imposing gate in Marrakech. It is also second only to the Koutoubia Minaret as the architectural symbol of the city. The beautifully ornate gate was built in the 12th century during Almohad dynasty and, for a long time, was the main access into the Kasbah, the fortified palace neighbourhood to the south of the Medina. Two towers originally stood on either side of the gate, but were destroyed long ago. Unlike most of Marrakech, the gate was built with blue-grey stones from Guéliz Mountain, rather than the reddish-pink stones used elsewhere, but overtime, pink dust accumulated over the grey stone giving the gate reddish tones. The origins of the gate's current name ("Agnaou") are unknown, but it replaced the old name Bab al-Qasr (Palace Gate).

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Address: Kasbah Area
Directions: Near Mosquée Yacoub el-Mansour

Although originally built in the 12th century by Almohads, the mosque of Yacoub el-Mansour was mostly reconstructed in the 16th century after suffering some severe damage. It is situated within the walls of the Kasbah, near Bab Agnaou, and is thought to be the only remaining structure in the Kasbah from Almohad period. The mosque's minaret is considered one of the most beautiful in Marrakech, along with la Koutoubia. This mosque is also known as la Mosquée aux Pommes d'Or (for the golden balls stacked above the minaret), as well as Mosquée de la Kasbah.

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Address: Place Moulay Yazid at rue de la Kasbah
Directions: Near Bab Agnaou in the Kasbah area

Built in the 16th century by Ahmed "The Golden" over his father's tomb, the Saadian Tombs then became the burial ground for the Saadian dynasty and other notables. The beautiful burial chambers are a testament to the splendour of the Saadian period. When Moulay Ismail of the Alaouite dynasty later ruled Marrakech, he order the destruction of all of the palaces built by the Saadians, but dared not touch their tombs. Instead he walled them off and out of sight. The tombs were forgotten over the centuries only to be rediscovered in 1917. Today, they dazzle visitors by the magnificence of their arabo-andalusian architecture. For additional photos of this architectural wonder, check out my travelogue: Tombeaux Saadiens.

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Address: Place Moulay Yazid at rue de la Kasbah
Directions: In the Kasbah of Marrakech, adjacent to Mosquée Yacoub el-Mansour near Bab Agnaou

Following his victories against the Portuguese in the 16th century, Yacoub el-Mansour ordered the construction of el Badi Palace, which was designed to be the largest and most sumptuous in Marrakech. If the Saadien Tombs of the same period are any indication, then el Badi Palace must have been that and more. Unfortunately, around 1700 during the rein of the Alaouites, Moulay Ismail ordered the destruction of el Badi along with other Saadian palaces. El Badi's decorations, however, were carefully removed and transported to Meknes where Moulay Ismail had moved the capital. The recovered materials were used to decorate palaces in his new capital Meknes. Despite being a ruin today, el Badi Palace is a very relaxing and picturesque spot worth exploring. Most astonishing is the sight of numerous storks nesting along the palace's ruined walls.

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Address: Kasbah - near Bab Berrima

One of the best preserved palaces of Marrakech, el Bahia Palace is not to be missed. It was built in the late 19th century by a vizier to the sultan and expanded by the acquisition of neighbouring houses, which resulted in a labyrinth of corriders and chambers. While not terribly ancient, the palace is decorated in traditional Moroccan motifs, but does not follow the typical plan of a riad. The palace contains a grand harem, the women's quarters, which apparently was needed for the vizier's four wives and many concubines!

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Directions: Next to Mellah neighbourhood, not far from rue Riad ez-Zitoun