Culture of Marrakech. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Picturesque palaces and squares, the historical district Medina which is of ultimate beauty, magnificent religious buildings and complexes as well as numerous museums of Marrakesh are the main landmarks and sights of this city annually attracting millions of tourists from all over the world. One of the most impressive architectural landmarks is the Bahia Palace. It was constructed in the 19th century and long served as a residence of the Grand Vizier. The upscale building is executed in keeping to the best ethnic traditions. The Palace stuns the visitors with its luxury interior and plenty of antique decorations.

The Palace is set in the large garden deserving tourists’ attention. The garden features the rarest plants, picturesque cozy enclosures with alcoves as well fountains added with original statuary groups. The most significant landmark of the city is the Koutoubia Mosque (the Kutubiyya Mosque). This is the largest and the highest building in the city of Marrakesh being seen almost from any spot of the area. All the city guests may explore the religious landmark and enjoy its ancient prayer towers being perfectly preserved till nowadays.

The Medina district features numerous unique historical landmarks and sights. This is the place of the magnificent Ali Ben Youseff Mosque built in the 12th century as well as the Mouassine Mosque of the 16th century. Though the people of other confessions are not allowed to enter the territory of the Mosques still thousands f tourists visiting the religious landmarks to embrace the beauty and magnificence of the buildings. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The ancient Mellah district (or Jewish Quarter) will be a perfect place for a walking tour. The district was established in the 15th century. At present its territory still hosts several ancient synagogues. In the district one will find original souvenir shops and numerous craft workshops. Among the cultural establishments the best worth attention is the Bert Flint Museum totally concentrated on the culture of local people. Among its showpieces one will find ethnic costumes, ancient furniture and handmade rugs, music instruments, armory and jewels.

The Dar Si Said Museum will be a perfect way to learn the handicraft traditions of Marrakesh deeper. The museum keeps a rich collection of jewelry, leather goods, ceramics and marble articles. Pictorial art admirers will love the Majorelle Museum devoted to the creative works of the famous French artist. A significant landmark of the city is the Jemaa el-Fnaa Square being the best place to embrace the ethnic culture for the city guests.

Marrakech also attracts connoisseurs of beauty. Magnificent gardens that can be mistaken for "oases in the desert" are located in the city. There are many such places here. Each of them has hundreds of fragrant tropical plants, trees, and flowers. Tourists and locals can enjoy them all year round. Jardin Majorelle is famous for the fact that Yves Saint Laurent once saved it from desolation. He bought the garden and improved it. Therefore, the museum dedicated to him is located nearby. It is called Musée Yves Saint Laurent. Not only tourists who are fond of fashion and style should visit it. The combination of French and Moroccan styles makes the cultural institution one of the most unique in all of North Africa.

The Jardin el Harti garden is perfect for walking thanks not only to the wonderful views but also to the conventional route. Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam is named for the reason that Wi-Fi is available on its territory. However, it is also a great park for walking with beautiful views. Musee de la Palmeraie is famous not only for its exhibition of contemporary Moroccan art but also for its magnificent garden. It is located on the territory of a cultural institution. Cozy gazebos, a pond with turtles, bamboo, cacti, and flowers — all these are undoubted advantages to visit the museum and walking around the courtyard.

You can walk not only through the gardens or parks but also along the cemetery. Hundreds of representatives of the Jewish people are buried in the Cimetière Juif de Miaara. The unmarked graves are painted white. They are all well-groomed. Its serenity and tranquility attract both local residents and visitors here. Many tourists who prefer to travel by railway transport immediately get acquainted with the sights of the city. The fact is that a railway station is an interesting place for tourists. Clean, well-groomed, and neat – these are the associations that arise when viewing the station. Everything is covered with marble inside the station. It was built in accordance with the classical standards of the Moorish style in 2008.

Palais El Badi (which means "incomparable") was built by order of the Sharif of Morocco, Ahmed Al Mansour, in 1578. It was probably the most luxurious building in the city in the past. It was built on the money earned by the monarch in the war with Portugal, which had to pay a considerable tribute. However, only the walls of the courtyard and the orange garden remain from their former grandeur today. All valuables were taken to the Palace in Meknes. Almoravid Koubba is a beautiful monument of the Almoravid dynasty. This is an older dynasty. Its construction dates back to 1117. The building needed reconstruction in the XVI and XIX centuries. It is famous not only for its rich interior but also for its well-thought-out design from an engineering point of view. By the way, this is the only surviving building of the Almoravid era.

There are also catholic churches in Marrakech. It is worth noting that the city and its local residents are famous for their tolerant attitude to other nations and faiths. Eglise des Saints-Martyrs is one of these churches. It was built in 1928. The temple is dedicated to five Franciscan martyrs who were executed in Marrakech in the XIII century. The area near the Bab Yacout historical monument is dedicated to other saints. The monuments were built in a row of cement blocks. Each of them symbolizes a certain saint. Sultan Mulay Ismail introduced the tradition of honoring Sufis from the 17th century. Marrakech began to be called the "city of the seven saints" from this time.

Theatre Royal is a great place for tourists who want to spend time culturally and watch something from the theater repertoire. In addition to an interesting program, the building also attracts with its impressive architecture. The theater was built by Tunisian architect Charles Baccara in the 1970s. It is a great combination of European and Moroccan styles. Domes are adjacent to columns, and bricks are adjacent to wood. You should definitely take a couple of minutes to admire the facade before entering the theater. There are also many other interesting and unique museums in the city. They are definitely worth a visit as part of the tour. Jardin Des Arts is one of them. It will definitely appeal to fans of sculptural art.

Musée de la Femme is an important sightseeing destination. A collection of artworks created by women is collected here. The presence of such a museum is a serious step in a country where men are predominant. This is another proof of the tolerant attitude of local residents. Musée Tiskiwin will introduce visitors to the peoples who inhabited Morocco before the Arabs. The museum is located in a beautiful mansion with an elegant interior. There is a magnificent mosaic floor, wooden inlays, openwork window bars, and carved doors here. The collection of nomadic Berber tribes is collected in a cultural institution. These are costumes, jewelry, textiles, household items, and works of art.