Highlights and Hidden Gems Of Marrakech Historical and Cultural Walking Tour

Highlights and Hidden Gems Of Marrakech Historical and Cultural Walking Tour

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Itinerary
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Stop At: Koutoubia Mosque, Rue el Ksour, Derb Sabai, 13, Marrakech 40000 Morocco

The Koutoubia Mosque was built during the 12 th century by the Almohad

dynasty. Today, at 70 meters high, the minaret remains the highest structure

and the Koutoubia Mosque the largest mosque in Marrakech. Local laws

restrict any new building projects from exceeding the height of the minaret,

providing a focal point for all to enjoy.

While the original mosque was built during the Almoravid dynasty’s reign, the

Almohad dynasty is said to have levelled the mosque when they came to

rule, as the building failed to properly face Mecca. They began reconstruction

of the mosque as it stands currently. During the rebuild, the Koutoubia

minaret acted as a model to the Hassan II Mosque in Rabat and also the Le

Giralda in Seville, Spain, as the Almohad empire expanded its empire north

into Andalusia. Hence, the structure is a fine example of Moorish

architecture with its keystone arches and decorative stonework.

Like all buildings in Marrakech, the structure is rose coloured. The name

koutoubia originates from the Arabic word for bookseller; back in the day up

to 100 booksellers would trade at the entrance to the mosque and in the

surrounding gardens. While the booksellers are no longer present, men still

sell small trinkets and even nuts and popcorn at dusk when locals gather

here to whittle away the hours under the shade of the orange trees.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Bab Agnaou, Marrakech Morocco

Bab Agnaou, also found in the Kasbah, is one of the nineteen gates of

Marrakech. It was built in the 12th century in the time of the Almohad

dynasty.

The name Agnaou, like Gnaoua, in Berber refers to black people (cf.

Akal-n-iguina wen – land of the black). The gate was called Bab al Kohl (also

referring to black people) or Bab al Qasr (palace gate) in some historical

sources. Albeit.. if you ask a local Guide he will totally contradict this

definition and out forward “The gate of the one legged black sheep”.

The function of the gate must have been representation, first of all. However

if you walk through Bab Agnaou and look-up it was obviously the first line of

defence into the Kasbah. The surrounding walls would have been an ideal

platform for Archers and moulton oil etc. Also the Gate does not stand true

to the Kasbah mosque, it is dog-legged. My assumption is that historically the

gates to the right of Bab Agnaou did not exist and the only access to the

Kasbah was through Bab Agnaou. Thus the Kasbah would have been quite

impenetrable in its day. This “false entrance” technique can also be found at

Alhambra in Spain.

The corner-pieces are decorated with floral decorations extending around a

shell. This ornamentation is framed by three panels and on these panels is

an inscription from the Quran in Maghribi, foliated Kufic letters, which were

also used in Al-Andalus. Bab Agnaou was renovated and its opening reduced

in size, during sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah. Forerunners of this

horseshoe-shaped gate with its corner-pieces, framed by inscriptions from

the Quran can be found in the Mezquita in Cordoba. It shows many

similarities to the contemporary (much simpler) Bab Er-Rouah in Rabat.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mellah, Marrakech Morocco

Morocco’s rich history includes a long period of Arab and Jewish

communities accepting their differences and living and working together to

bring success to their respective businesses. The Mellah in Marrakech refers

to the area where the Jewish community resided. In cities all over Morocco,

Mellahs flourished and became small cities within cities.

At its peak in the 1500s, the Mellah in Marrakech included bakers, jewelers,

tailors, sugar traders, artisans, craft people, outdoor markets, fountains and

synagogues.

Nowadays most of the Jewish presence is gone – there are only around 250

Jews remaining in Marrakech – but you can still see the shop fronts and large

bazaars.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Palacio da Bahia, 5 Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakech 40000 Morocco

The Bahia Palace, meaning brilliance in Arabic, is perhaps one of the

best-preserved historical sites and certainly most interesting in Marrakech .

Built between 1866 and 1867 by Si Moussa, this sprawling palace is set over

two acres in the middle of the Marrakech medina and features 150 rooms,

including a harem section located just off the sun-filled Court of Honour.

Having housed the Resident General during the French Protectorate era,

today the Bahia Palace is a must-see historical museum open to the public

daily and has previously hosted events such as the Marrakech Biennale.

Originally built for the personal use of Si Moussa, Grand Vizier of the Sultan,

a former slave who climbed the ranks, the house was soon after occupied by

his son Bou Ahmed. He slyly rose to power in 1894 when he managed to gain

complete control over the state until his death in 1900. It was during Bou

Ahmed’s reign that the brilliance of the palace was really enhanced with the

addition lush gardens, the small riad surrounding private gardens (of which

visitors today pass through immediately upon entering the palace area) and

each of the rooms decorated in truly elegant Moroccan style – carved stucco

and cedarwood to decorate each of the rooms.

The palace houses council rooms with impressive zellig fireplaces, flooring

and painted cedar work, a large riad surrounded by citrus trees, and the

Court of Honour that was built during Si Moussa’s power. The palace was

also the residence of Bou Ahmed, his four wives and several concubines.

Though the harem, as it is often known, is off-limits to visitors, you can visit

the traditional style gardens that are filled with orange trees and splashing

fountains with living quarters and apartments, most notably that of his wife

Lalla Zinab. Beautifully zellig-tiled fireplaces and floors and colourful

stained-glass windows create colourful patterns in the afternoon sun, and

beautifully painted and carved cedarwood are just some of the interesting

features in his wife’s apartment.

Following Bou Ahmed’s death in 1900, it is said that the palace was

ransacked and all valuables were removed. With the arrival of the French in

the early 1900s, the residents were forced to move out to make way for the

Resident General. In her book, In Morocco, Edith Wharton describes her stay

her during the Protectorate years, a Marrakech must-read for those looking

for more about the Bahia Palace.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Jemaa el-Fnaa, 38 Jemaa el-Fna, Rue El Ksour, Marrakech Morocco

During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, water sellers with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, youths with chained Barbary apes and snake charmers despite the protected status of these species under Moroccan law.[10][11]

As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks.

Steam rising from food stalls

The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, a traditional North African market catering both for the common daily needs of the locals, and for the tourist trade. On other sides are hotels and gardens and cafe terraces, and narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter.

Once a bus station, the place was closed to vehicle traffic in the early 2000s. The authorities are well aware of its importance to the tourist trade, and a strong but discreet police presence ensures the safety of visitors.

Duration: 15 minutes