Arab News
By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | RIMA.ALMUKHTAR
Published: Apr 10, 2012 13:42 Updated: Apr 10, 2012 18:23
Marrakech is also known as the “Red City” due to its famous and inviting red walls, alleys and plazas. These red walls surround the Madina, the old city, and have numerous huge gates that used to be shut at night in the old days. The walls are now iconic and peculiar to this city by all means.
Marrakech is the third largest country in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat, and is located in the west of Morocco at the foot of the High Atlas, the high mountainous barrier in North Africa.
Like almost every Moroccan city, Marrakech includes both an old city called the Madina and a modern one called Gueliz. Marrakech’s attractions include attractive green gardens, ruins of 16th century palaces and of course the La Koutoubia Mosque that was built in the 12th century. The French dominated Morocco in the early 20th century and their influence can still be seen in Morocco’s architecture. The people of Morocco have taken French as their second language while Arabic remains their first.
Where to stay:
Riad is the Arabic word for garden and the Moroccan genre of homes known as Riads is exactly this. Riads are garden houses built in a wide ranging decorative style, from simple and traditional to daring and even post modern. The homes are now owned by Europeans who have turned them into hotels and restaurants serving authentic Moroccan cuisine. There are over 3,000 Riads in Marrakech alone.
For a more luxurious stay The Four Seasons Resort is the smartest and best choice for families and honeymooners. The resort offers 141 rooms and luxurious suites with artistic designs which are a fusion of modernity and the past and inspired by an authentic Moroccan style. Rooms in the Four Seasons Resort have different views such as the Resort View, the Pool View, the Menara Garden View and the Atlas Mountain View.
The resort’s buildings resemble a lavish Moorish palace and are designed to make guests feel like kings and queens of their own Moroccan fantasy. The courtyards, stairways, gardens and corridors are very much like an upscale traditional riad.
There are different dining options at the resort, such as the Belu d’Orange which serves authentic Italian cuisine, the Inara Lounge which serves snacks and drinks, and the Solano — Brasserie du Sud which serves authentic Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine.
The spa at the Four Seasons separates men from women to assure comfort and privacy. The spa offers packages for those who want to try out the traditional hammam followed by a relaxing massage. The spa’s signature package is the Thousand and One Nights — this includes a hammam bath and a traditional smoke essence ritual followed by a saffron, garnet and rose scrub and orange flower body wrap. There is finally a facial with oils of rose, jasmine and orange flowers leaving you feeling refreshed and hygienic.
Sightseeing:
Marrakech has a very attractive and cosmopolitan nightlife; the young and fashionable crowd can enjoy what the city has to offer from lounges, restaurants and even night events. However, some things will never change — the Medina is one of them. People living and working there have not changed with the new millennium. This downtown is the center of traditional Moroccan commerce, entertainment, social interaction and folklore. It is definitely the most attractive place for tourists.
The fastest way to get into the culture of Morocco is to go to Palace Jema El Fana which is a big open air square and is known to be the busiest square in Africa. It is located in the heart of the Medina and home to snake charmers, local musicians and dancers, story tellers, henna artists, street peddlers and much more.
Taking the detour to the back alley of the Jema El Fanar, one will head right into the heart of Marrakech’s downtown souk. At this market, shoppers will find everything from spices, kitchen supplies, textiles, carpets, leather goods, clothing, shoes, silver, home accessories and many local Moroccan goods. The alley is huge and one might get lost in these curvy passageways that lead you from one place to another. Bartering is a must because shopkeepers will always give you the highest price to make as much money as possible.
Koutoubia Mosque: A walking distance from Jema El Fanar, this mosque was named after the booksellers’ market that used to be located there. It is said that the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque is to Marrakech as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.
Ben Youssef Madrassa: This is one of the largest Madrassas in the North Africa. It is a school attached to the Ben Youssef Mosque and is home to beautiful art and architecture.
Jardin Majorelle: This is a botanical garden. It was designed by the French artist Jacques Majorelle who was famous for collecting plants in the 1920s and 1930s, but in 1947 the garden was open to the public and in 1980 the garden was owned by the famous fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. The garden contains hundreds of different plants and trees with different sizes and shapes as well as a memorial dedicated to the fashion designer.
The garden also houses a Berber Museum that presents a rich panorama of the various indigenous tribes, the most ancient of Northern Africa, and different objects such as jewelry, weapons, leather goods, basketwork and woven textile showcasing Berber culture.
Maison de la Photographie: The Photography Museum contains more than 3,500 private photographs that cover the period from 1870 to 1950. Each and every one of them tells a story about Morocco.
El Bahia Palace: This is an ornate and spectacular palace, popular with tourists and stray cats. The palace is well worth a visit and gives a great impression of what it must have been like to be a 19th century nobleman in Morocco. There is a nice garden and even though there is no furniture displayed, the palace has beautiful mosaic ceilings and walls showcasing an authentic Moroccan interior.
El Badi Palace : Currently in ruins, this palace was inhabited by storks and stray cats. There are great underground passageways to explore here.
Saadian Tombs: These are tombs discovered in the 20th century. They have been well preserved just like they were during the glory days of the Saadian rulers. Unlike the El Badi Palace, they were not destroyed because the entrance was blocked so they remained untouched for hundreds of years. Inside you will find an overload of Morrocan tiles. It doesn’t take a lot of time to explore, but it is definitely worth the visit.
What to do:
The Four Seasons Resort offers attractive packages prepared by their concierge. There is a planned agenda for families, honeymooners and adventurous travelers such as a trip to the heart of the Sahara where one will be greeted in an exceptional and comfortable camp where they take the helicopter right to their tents and enjoy music around the camp fire, have traditional dinners, sleep under the canvas and see the sun set from the Moroccan desert.
Take a hot air balloon flight and see Marrakech from a distance and enjoy breakfast during the inflating of the balloon next to a campfire.
Enjoy a gourmet dinner under the stars and the glow of candles and torches amidst exceptional natural surroundings. On offer is an idyllic setting under the stars for romantic dinners or intimate celebrations, an evening with friends or family, far from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Quads, mountain biking and camel riding are certainly recommended in the wildest and most beautiful routes near Marrakech, between desert plains, canyons and rocky hills; on offer is a unique itinerary with great views of the Atlas Mountains in the background.
The concierge recommends guests take up its Expedition to Berber Lands — on offer are beautiful preserved landscapes. Start with a discovery tour of Berber inhabitants, then a lunch at the inhabitants’ place followed by a guided discovery of the natural features (canyon, valley) around the village, and a panoramic route on the way back. A trip to Essaouira, a sea city that is 2 hours away from Marrakech, is also a remarkable one. There you can profit from the sea. After your day in Essaouira, the driver will take you on the way back to Argan to get you familiar with how oil is made.
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