Marrakech

Travel Guide > Africa > Morocco > Marrakech

Quick Facts

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Coordinates

Latitude: 31.63917
Longitude: -8.00477

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Introduction

The Medina, Marrakech

Marrakech (Marrakesh in English) is a popular travel destination in Morocco. Famous for ochre stucco buildings, the city is surrounded by the Atlas mountains, making for a spectacular setting. Capital of the south and known as the "red city", the atmosphere is decidedly more African than that of Fez, Rabat and Meknes, other Imperial cities. It's primarily this unique atmosphere which makes Marrakech the most visited Imperial city and nowhere is this better experienced than in the alleyways and souks (markets) of Medina, the Old City. Indeed, such is the change that you think yourself on a movie set as you wander through it.

In the very heart of the Medina is Djemaa el Fna, the busiest square in Africa. Tourists are drawn by day to witness the square's acrobats, dancers, story-tellers, water sellers and musicians. By night tourists are just as plentiful, enjoying the transformation of the square into a huge open-air restaurant as the food stalls kick into gear. Unlike so many other locations, tourism has not taken away from the atmosphere, but only seems to be adding to it.

Adjacent to Djemaa el Fna is Le Souk, the largest traditional market in Morocco and famous for its winding streets and stalls selling everything from traditional handicrafts, clothes, leather crafted goods and carpets to spices and marinated olives.