Winter Sun, Marrakech Sightseeing & Shopping
Medina & Koutoubia, Souk Bargains, Food & Nightlife on Djemaa el Fna
Oct 3, 2009
Set among palm groves at the foot of the Atlas, Marrakech is a delightful city surrounded by red ramparts and gates glowing in the sun. Three ancient dynasties set up their capital within the walls, embellishing the medina with fine buildings and lush gardens. There are palaces to visit, souks to wander around and the amazing Djemaa el Fna to enjoy one of the greatest shows on earth.
Marrakech is easy to explore on foot but for the less energetic, taxis and horse drawn carriages pop up on every corner. Carriages are expensive unless sharing, small taxis are cheap but it’s best to agree a price beforehand rather than rely on the meter.
Winter Sun in Marrakech, Sightseeing in the Medina, Koutoubia and Palaces
Top sights include the crumbling el-Badi Palace where storks nest on the walls and the scent of orange blossom fills the air. Nearby, the 19th century Bahia Palace rambles around a marble courtyard, graced with fountains and fluted columns. The Saadian dynasty tombs lie near the city gate in peaceful gardens.
At the heart of the medina is the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque, stunning in the setting sun, with its pink minaret rising 70 metres above the city. The mosque is closed to non Muslims but visitors are welcome in the Ben Youssef Medersa, a religious school gleaming with mosaics and marble, carved cedar and stucco as fine as lace.
Shopping in the Souk in Marrakech
Marrakech claims one of the largest souks in North Africa, a never ending maze of shaded alleyways lined with hundreds of stalls. It’s a head spinning sort of place, all shimmering fabrics and pointed slippers, leather, copper, Berber jewellery, baskets, spices and more. Similar trades are grouped together so no one really gets lost. Bargaining is the norm, starting below half the asking price and encouraged by complimentary mint tea.
Many craftsmen can be seen at work in the souk, embroidering gowns, hammering metal, chiselling silver or carving wood. Freshly dyed skeins of wool dry across the lanes and there are great cartloads of oranges and unleavened bread.
Food and Nightlife on the Djemaa el Fna
The Djemaa el Fna Square is the true heart of Marrakech, the place where locals come after dark to entertain or to be entertained for free. Snake charmers, musicians, dancers, acrobats or story tellers, there’s something for everyone, especially when tourists are prepared to part with a little change. The sound of African drums echoes through the night and anyone can join in.
Meanwhile, in the outdoor kitchens, dozens of chefs chop and stir all sorts of delicacies, from lamb kebabs and snails to bean soup and couscous. There are swaying lights and clouds of smoke, juice stalls packed with citrus fruit and for the less adventurous, panoramic restaurants with comfy chairs and china plates.
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