The African country itself owes its name to the city because during the Middle Ages, Marrakech was known in Europe as the City of Morocco.
Today Marrakech presents itself as a cosmopolitan city full of attractions. The old city, called the medina, located to the west of the new city, is fascinating. And it is here, in the medina square called Jāmiʿ el-Fnā, that the tourist and local life of Marrakech thrives the most in a lively transformation between day and night hours.
During the day, Jāmiʿ el-Fnā hosts stalls and open-air markets where you can buy all sorts of things, from fabrics to dates and ostrich eggs. Accompanying the daytime dynamism are musicians, snake charmers, tooth-pullers, acrobats, henna artists, and many other entertainers. The northern side of the square is the area most dedicated to tourists with its souks, markets branching into alleys and small squares, each reserved for a specific type of commerce. At sunset, the merchant stalls give way to evening stands filled with typical dishes prepared on the spot and accompanied by the cheerful rhythms of storytellers and musicians.
Admiring the various souks, you reach the Ben Youssef Mosque and the nearby homonymous medersa, a school specialized in teaching Islamic fundamentals. Moving instead to the southern side of the square, you find yourself in front of the Kasbah Mosque, after passing through the only remaining gate, called Bab Agnaou, dating back to the Almohad dynasty. After leaving the mosque, through a narrow passageway, you reach the Saadian Tombs, discovered in 1917 in total neglect. Today, these tombs are among the few noteworthy monuments of Marrakech.
After also visiting the Royal Palace complex, the Mellah (ancient Jewish quarter), the Majorelle Garden (in the new city), and the Cyberpark (dedicated to IT technologies and sustainable development), you can relax in a spa, taste the tagine and other local gastronomic products, and finally dive into the “crazy night” of Marrakech… as Mina used to sing.
