It's Time to explore Morocco

 

We know Morocco. The Places, the People, the Culture

 

   
    Morocco       Who We Are    

 

Transfers Airport       Destinations       Rent Car Minibus & 4WD       Accomodation       Gallery       Contact Us  
   

Marrakech Day Trips

   
                                                                                            Home » Destinations » Excursions                                                                                      
 
Marrakesh
Marrakesh is the second oldest Imperial city, known as the ‘Pearl of the South’ or the ‘red city’. It was founded in 1062 by the Almoravids from the Sahara and taken by the Almohads almost a century later. It was the Saadian dynasty during the 16th century, who gave Marrakesh the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Medersa and the Palais El-Badi, which today are the city’s most frequented touristic sights. In 1668 Marrakesh’s golden age ended when the Alaouites made Fez, and later Meknes, their capital. The rich history of Marrakesh reflects in its various quarters and monuments today.

Koutoubia
To mark his victory over the Almoravids in 1147, the Almohad sultan Abd el-Moumen set about building one of the largest mosques in the Western Muslim world. The minaret, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, was completed during the reign his grandson of Yacoub el-Mansour. It later served as a model for the Giralda in Sevilla,

as well as for the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The ‘Booksellers’ Mosque takes its name from the manuscripts souk that once took place around it. The minaret is the highest building in the city and only Muslims may enjoy the unforgettable view

from the top of the building. The mosque has been restored to reveal the original pink colour of the brickwork.

Saadian Tombs
Although they were neglected for more than two centuries, the tombs of the Saadian dynasty constitute some of the finest examples of the Islamic architecture in Morocco. Their style is in complete contrast to the simplicity of Almohad architecture, as the Saadian princes lavished on funerary architecture the same splendor and magnificence that they gave to the other buildings.
Until 1917 there was a wall around the main entrance, built by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail out of respect for the dead. Nowadays open to the public, we find the mausoleum of Ahmed el-Mansour and his successors and a flower garden symbolizing Allah’s paradise.

Ben Youssef Medersa
This Koranic school is not only one of the finest but also one of the largest in the Maghreb, with a capacity of 900 students.

It was founded by the Merinid sultan Abou el-Hassan in the mid-14th century and was rebuilt by the Saadian sultan Moulay Abdallah in the 16th century, whose desire was to restore to Marrakech the prestige of an imperial capital and simultaneously

to affirm his devotion to Allah.

Djemaa El Fna and its souks
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this unique and extraordinary square has been for centuries the nerve centre

of Marrakesh and the symbol of the city. In the morning there is a large market with medicinal plants, freshly squeezed oranges

and all kinds of nuts and confectionery. Later in the day the square transforms in an arena of a gigantic open-air show with snake charmers, fortune tellers, monkey handlers, musicians, dancers and the air filled with smoke and aroma of grilled meat and spices.
Djemaa El Fna truly is a place of nonstop entertainment. On the North and East of the square you can enter the narrow streets into the most fascinating souks of Morocco. This labyrinth of streets displays a very wide variety of good, from fabric to jewellery

and slippers, to traditional crafts of leatherwork, basketry and carpets, making a walk in the souks a true journey through time.

Bahia Palace
This palace, whose name means “Palace of the Favourite”, was built by two powerful grand viziers at the end of the 19th century.

It consists of 2 parts, each built in different times: the older part, built by Si Moussa (vizier of sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Aberderrahman), and the new part, built by his son Ba Ahmed (vizier of Moulay Abdelaziz). They both consist of luxurious

apartments and tree planted courtyards, each in a unique and different style. Marshal Lyautey chose to live here during the Protectorate.

La Mamounia Hotel
Opened in 1929, the legendary La Mamounia Hotel stands on the site of a residence that belonged to the son of the Alaouite sultan Sidi Mohammed in the 18th century. All that remains of that residence is the magnificent 130.000m² (32 acre) garden, planted with olive and orange trees and containing a pavilion that was built by a Saadian ruler in the 16th century. The hotel was designed by Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio, who achieved a pleasing combination of Art Deco and Moorish styles. Many famous people, including Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon and Orson Welles, have stayed in Marrakesh’s most famous and luxurious hotel.
http://www.mamounia.com/en/intro.htm

Majorelle Garden
In 1923 Jacquese Majorelle fell in love with Morocco and built himself a splendid Moorish villa around which he laid out a luxuriant garden. The house was later bought by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé and its garden opened to the public in 1955. The bright blue of the house combined with numerous coloured tropical flowers, over 400 varieties of palm tree and 1.800 species of cactus, truly reflect a small paradise. The studio next to the house has been converted into a small museum with a selection of Moroccan crafts and paintings by Jacques Majorelle.
www.jardinmajorelle.com/ang/

Weather
:
Winter temperature = 10 - 20°C Summer temperature = 25 – 45°C
Hot and dry climate, with little humidity. Big night/day temperature difference

Festivals:
International Film Festival Winter

Official website of the festival:
http://en.festivalmarrakech.info
Popular Arts Festival July

Official website of the festival:
http://www.marrakechfestival.com/

Official website of the festival:
International Humour Festival June
http://marrakechdurire.com/

 
     
   

Popular Destinations in Morocco.

                 
Marrakech Essaouira Merzouga Tanger Ouarzazate Rabat Chefchaouen Fez Agadir Casablanca Meknes Tétouan
   
   

© 2014 Iguana Sahara Tours Morocco Tourist - All rights reserved.