Mmorocco

Short City Breaks: Marrakech

Enveloped in an aura of mysteriousness and drama, exotic Marrakech provides travelers with a true taste of Moroccan life. Set to the backdrop of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains rising majestically out of the Sahara, it is the gateway to Morocco’s red desert and the base for the High Atlas region. Here, African, Berber and Arab Morocco come together in the clanging and banging of everyday life.

Marrakech Souk

Founded in 1062 and one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, Marrakech is rife with magnificent landscapes, historical landmarks and beautiful ancient buildings – evidence to the city’s fascinating history.

Djemaa el Fna at NIght

Start out in the maze of narrow streets and alleys leading to the city’s souks, located near Djemaa el Fna, the city’s central square. Here, local vendors tout every imaginable ware – from spices and local produce to pottery, metalworks, jewelry and rugs. Friendly merchants will gladly offer you a glass of mint tea, a traditional custom while you’re expected to haggle for their goods. When the cacophony becomes too much, take refuge in a rooftop café, from where you can observe the unfolding drama below.

Typical Building Style

The heart of traditional Marrakech, the Dejmaa el Fna, comes to life at sunset when story tellers, musicians, snake charmers, witch doctors, fire-eaters and acrobats ply their trades as locals clamor around.

In sharp contrast to the Dejmaa el Fan, to the south lies a tranquil district of the Medina, with its many splendid monuments depicting the city’s fascinating history.

Marrakech is also famous for its lush and beautiful gardens. The Agdal and Menara gardens are set amidst a fantasy landscape of orchids and olive groves. The Jardins Majorelle, originally created by a French painter and now owned by Yves Saint Laurent, are smaller in size but spectacular with their lily and cactus ponds and the stunning pavilion housing the Islamic Art Museum.

Majorelle Gardens

Picture of Menara gardens
thanks to Acp from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

Marrakech is also a great base for adventure travel throughout southern Morocco. On the west, mystical Essaouira sits on the Atlantic coast and offers a lovely seaside resort. To the east, Ourzazate with its dramatic desert scenery opens the gateway to the Sahara.

While maintaining a strong bond to its history, Marrakech, with its spectacular location and bustling ambiance is rooted in the present. It is a city imbued with the sights, sounds and flavors of Morocco; it is quite simply, a feast for the senses.

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Ben Youssef Madrasa

An exquisitely carved archway in the Ben Youssef Madrasa

This is a gathering of Lovers.
In this gathering
there is no high, no low,
no smart, no ignorant,
no special assembly,
no grand discourse,
no proper schooling required.
There is no master,
no disciple.

Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi

The Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech is one of the most beautiful places in this vibrant North African city. Within its walls you find tranquility and beauty unsurpassed by any other monuments here.

The central courtyard of the Madrasa

The Ben Youssef Madrasa is named after the amoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably, but was founded much later during, in the 14th century by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hassan.

View from one of the dormitories

The building was re-constructed in the 16th century by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib(1557–1574).

Closed down in 1960, the The Ben Youssef Madrasa building complex was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982.

The beautiful court seen from the main entrance

The Ben Youssef Madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students.

One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745).

The beautiful main courtyard is partly built in cedar mable and stucco and it is extremely ornate.

The carvings covering the walls have no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. In the middle you have a beautiful pool in cool blue and green mosaic tiles.

The 130 student dormitory cells at the Ben Youssef Madrasa face this court. It feels so strange being inside these tiny rooms where generations of pious young men have studied their holy book.

It is a surprise really to find a space like Ben Youssef Madrasa in a city as Marrakech. The refined beauty of its interior is a contrast to the rough and charming exterior of the streets outside. The space here is actually like many others found in Marrakech. You are suddenly removed to a beautiful quiet room far away from the commotion of the streets outside.

You are suddenly back to its grand era, when, as you are wander in the courtyard hear the call of the muezzin at the nearby Ben Youssef Mosque. I caught this on this short film clip taken during my visit.

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Ben Youssef Madrasa

Wall in the patio
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was an Islamic college in Marrakech, Morocco, named after the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably. It is the largest Medrasa in all of Morocco.

The college was founded during the period of the Marinid (14th century) by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hassan and allied to the neighbouring Ben Youssef Mosque. The building of the madrasa was re-constructed by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574). In 1565 the works ordered by Abdallah al-Ghalib were finished, as confirmed by the inscription in the prayer room. Its 130 student dormitory cells cluster around a courtyard richly carved in cedar, marble and stucco. The carvings contain no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. This madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students. One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745).
Closed down in 1960, the building was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982.

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