Marrakech is a bubbly city of incredible beauty situated on the reddish flatlands in southern Morocco. Unlike Fez, Marrakech has kept the fascinating inheritance from its ancient past, but lives in harmony with the present. The second largest Moroccan city after Casablanca, for extension and population Marrakech is the most important administrative and commercial centre in southern Morocco. Apart from the Koutoubia Mosque and the Sadian Tombs Marrakech doesn’t have particular historic monuments, its beauty is in the atmosphere and its geographical position with the Atlas Mountains sitting behind the city, their peaks surrounded by suggestive haze in summer and covered with snow in winter. Architecturally the city looks more like an agglomerate of villages than an actual urban area. For most visitors Marrakech represents the first southern stop to then continue on their journey to the large oasis of the southern territories. People here are renowned to be friendly and open, even women appear to have a certain independence and freedom. The city is divided into two parts, Medina, which is the old part, and Gueliz, the new French area. The city is structured around the large Djemaa el Fna square in the heart of the Medina, one of the most interesting squares in the world not for its beauty but for the buzz and the number of activities going on during the daytime and in the evening. There are no monuments or historical buildings on the square, it is just an open circus of entertainers of all types, jugglers, storytellers, singers, dancers, merchants and more. It is always crowded with a great number of skilled pick-pocket thieves. North of the square the labyrinth of alleyways is home to the souk, the traditional market, where you’ll find absolutely everything from rugs and tanned leather goods to drinking mugs and spices, you name it and is there! It is only a matter to find it, which is easier said than done. It is easy to get lost in the mesh of alleys that at first glance could appear daunting, but it is actually a long covered street, Rue Souk Smarine, which bifurcates into two alleys: Souk el Attarin and Souk el Kebir. Little alleyways and squares dedicated to the production of the crafts identify with the respective souks, there you can observe the production process of the goods on sale.
It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been there, Marrakech remains a fascinating place not only for the buzz of the city as a marketplace and its culture but also for the picturesque scenery and the beautiful peaceful gardens, Jardin Agdal, Jardin Menara and the smaller but enchanting subtropical garden Jardin Majorelle.