Marrakesh (or Marrakech) - Morocco
It is popular tourism attraction in south-western Morocco in the foothills
of the Atlas Mountains. The setting of the city is stunning with buildings
surrounded by the snow-peaked Atlas mountains. Marrakesh is also known as the red city
because of its red soil and the reflection it causes in the sunlight. It is the
second largest city after Casablanca and the population is estimated to be over
one million ( although unofficial estimates are much higher). There is a very
large international community consisting mainly of Europeans including some
retired French and other countries like Germans, Italians, English and Swiss. Marrakesh's beauty and attraction lie in the general atmosphere and spectacular
location – with the magnificent peaks of the Atlas rising right up behind the
city, hazy in the heat of summer and shimmering white with the winter snow. It
also has 9.7 km of unbroken walls.
The most popular area among the tourists in Marrakesh is Jma-el-Fna which is a truly unbelievable experience if you are from a western country. It is a market scene straight out of the movies with snake charmers, musicians, acrobats and storytellers. There are lots of small stalls where people sell a variety of local collections and selling fresh orange juice, nuts and dried fruit. During most of the days, perfumers of every kind put up their shows, continuing until the food stalls start to move in. Do take care of your belongings and wallet as sometimes there are be some thief's around. Marrakesh has Berber rather than Arab origins, having developed as the metropolis of Atlas tribes – Maghrebis from the plains, Saharan nomads and former slaves from Africa beyond the desert, Sudan, Senegal and the ancient kingdom of Timbuktu.
Popular Attractions of Marrakesh :
Adjacent to Jma-l-Fna square, is the Le Souk which is a famous market with winding streets offering an amazing collection of traditional handicrafts, leather crafted goods, marinated olives,carpets, clothes, spices and many other items native to Marrakesh.
Ali ben Youssef Mosque:
The largest of the mosques inside the medina is the Ali ben Youssef Mosque, which marks the intellectual and religious heart of the medina
This was the mansion of Si Ahmed ben Moussa, the vizier of Moulay Hassan. It was built as late as 1894.
Majorelle Gardens are a must, young Marrakechians considered as the most romantic place in town. This beautifully layed out garden was designed by The Yves St. Laurent himself.
There are several other popular buildings including Medina of Marrakesh, Ali Ben Youssef Medersa (Madrasa), Museum of Marrakesh, El Badi Palace, Ali Ben Youssef Mosque, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou and many more. You can also take a ride on a green canopied horse drawn carriage to tour the city including Agdal gardens and Menara.
When To Go
Spring and autumn are the best times to explore with temperatures averaging 20-25°C. Expect to encounter either extreme cold or extreme heat outside of these seasons. It's best to avoid April if you are planning on desert travel - it's traditionally sandstorm season.
