6 days Ago By Ute Junker
This story is part of the November 17 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . You have heard about the snake charmers, of course.
Everyone who comes to Marrakech wants to see the snake charmers. Fortunately, finding them is easy. Just head to Djemaa el-Fna, the square at the heart of the old medina that springs to life every sunset.
Amid the bustle of the countless barbecue stands, acrobats and fortune-tellers, those mesmerising reptiles and their handlers are easy to spot. Le Jardin Secret in Marrakech is two gardens, a traditional Persian garden and one featuring exotic plants, all fed by an ancient irrigation system. Credit: Shutterstock Beyond that, almost everything you do in Marrakech is likely to be a surprise.
This improbable city – sitting on the edge of the desert, yet ringed by snowcapped mountains during winter – has seduced travellers for centuries by revealing her charms carefully. Marrakech is a city of plain exteriors and lush interiors, both timelessly traditional and utterly contemporary. Want to feel the history? Then head straight for the Saadian Tombs.
Constructed in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, they are head-spinningly ornate, decked out with lashings of Carrara marble and a gilded ceiling of honeycomb muqarnas. The sultan’s Badi Palace was once equally luxurious but its picturesque ruins, with their huge reflecting pools, are still worth a visit. The Bahia Palace is in much better shape.
Owned by a slave who worked his way up to the exalted position of vizier, its rooms are magnificent, especially those belonging to the vizier’s favourite concubine, Lalla Zineb. The Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa is an outstanding example of Islamic architecture, and Le Jardin Secret, a lush oasis hidden inside the shell of an old palace, is an absolute highlight. There are two gardens, a traditional Persian garden and one featuring exotic plants, all fed by an ancient irrigation system that funnels water all the way from the High Atlas mountains.
Loading Time your visits in the early morning so you can savour the serenity. The same applies to the Jardin Majorelle, the former home of French fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. The building, painted a vivid shade of ultramarine, is surrounded by a sculptural desert garden filled with cacti and palms.
Stop in at the Berber Museum, which contains Saint Laurent’s collection of Berber clothing and jewellery, and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, where the boldly hued fashions reveal how Morocco’s penchant for colour influenced the designer. Next door you’ll find Moro, a concept store featuring contemporary Moroccan designs as well as a charming courtyard cafe and a handful of accommodation rooms. A short walk away, the Gueliz neighbourhood is great for gallery hopping.
Morocco’s creative scene is booming; check out some of the talent at places such as Comptoir des Mines and Musée MACMA..
