The African state itself owes its name to the city, as during the Middle Ages, Marrakech was known in Europe as the City of Morocco, indeed.
Today Marrakech presents itself as a cosmopolitan city full of attractions. Fascinating is the old city, called the medina, located to the west of the new city. And it is precisely here, in the medina square called Jāmiʿ el-Fnā, that the tourist and local life of Marrakech develops 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 everything and more, from fabrics to dates and ostrich eggs. Adding to the daytime dynamism are musicians, snake charmers, tooth-pullers, acrobats, people specialized in henna decorations and in many other activities. It is the northern side of the square that is mostly dedicated to tourists with its souks, markets that spread out in alleys and squares each reserved for a specific commercial activity. At sunset the merchant kiosks give way to evening stalls laid out with typical dishes prepared on the spot and accompanied by the cheerful rhythms of storytellers and musicians.
Admiring the various souks one arrives at the Ben Youssef Mosque and the nearby medersa of the same name, that is a school specialized in teaching Islamic fundamentals. Moving instead to the south side of the square, one finds oneself in front of the Kasbah mosque, after passing through the only remaining gate, called Bab Agnau, dating back to the Almohad dynasty. Leaving the mosque, one then arrives, through a narrow passage, at the Saadien Tombs rediscovered in 1917 in total abandonment. Today these tombs are one of the few monuments of Marrakech more worthy of note.
After also visiting the complex of the Royal Palace, the Mellah (ancient Jewish ghetto), the Majorelle garden (in the new city) and the Cyberpark (dedicated to IT technologies and sustainable development), one can rejuvenate in a spa, taste the tajine and other local gastronomic products and, finally, dive into the “crazy night” of Marrakech… as Mina sang.
