MarrakeshTraveller.info

Marrakesh City Guide

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:01:23 +0000

Marrakesh is a city in the grip of a delirious imagination. A feverish dreamscape of honeycombed alleys and minarets quivering in the moonlight and haunted by the restless creatures of a visionary carnival that has lasted for a thousand years and shows no sign of stopping now. Marrakesh is one of the worlds enchanted places where time becomes suspended and, through its open door, you catch a glimpse of the past so rich and so remote and yet so palpable.

You can sense the atavism propelling every trick and turn in the Djemaa el Fna, Marrakesh’s pulsating main square and one of the worlds great theatres. The Djemaa is a spectacular pageant of singers, tumblers, sorcerers, herbalists, raconteurs, impostors, preachers and snake charmers, all competing for your eye. There is nowhere else in Africa which so effortlessly involves you, blows aside travel cynicism and keeps you returning. If you get tired, observe the spectacle from one of the overlooking rooftop cafes.

Marrakesh’s setting is truly magical. A patchwork of ravishing green against the bare, brown plain of Haouz with the snowy High Atlas rearing up behind like an apocalyptic tidal wave towering through the haze. Focus of every approach to the city is the Koutoubia Mosques minaret, Marrakesh’s crowning centrepiece, the 203 feet high tower, the very synthesis of Moslem architecture. Other sights to visit are the Saadian tombs dating from 1557, over-lavish maybe, but sensational nevertheless.

Dar Moha

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:08:05 +0000

This isn’t the most stylish riad, but it has an established reputation for its fixed menu of nouvelle cuisine marocaine, ideal for tagine fatigue. Delicious adaptations of traditional dishes include a tiny melt-in-the-mouth pastilla (sweet pigeon pie) filled with a vegetable purée, and strawberries wrapped in wafer-thin pastry and rolled in ground almonds. Steer clear of the poky salons; head instead for the outside tables arranged around a small pool and shaded by lush banana palms. With the accompaniment of Andalusian lutes, these are where it’s at.

Catanzaro

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:07:18 +0000

One of Marrakesh’s most popular restaurants, this homey Italian spot has dining on two floors, brightened by red-chintz tablecloths. The menu has a good selection of basic Italian dishes and pizzas at prices that make them fabulous values. Pizza Royal — that is, with everything on it — is a favorite.

Bagatelle

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:06:43 +0000

Named after the original owner’s home district in Paris, this well-established French-run place has been in the family for three generations. In honor of his grandmother, the original cook, new blood Mr. Blanc-Collomb can’t bring himself to delete anything from his twirly handwritten menu, so he only adds to it. Old-fashioned plates include terrine, duck with apples, and on Friday, couscous. The attractive vine-covered patio drips with grapes and is illuminated by little lights at night; sprinklers in July and August keep things fresh. Indoors, two log fires keep you warm the rest of the year.

Al Fassia

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:05:59 +0000

Serving some of the best à la carte Morrocan food in the city, Al Fassia breaks the mold in several ways. It’s run by women, avoids the dictates and giant portions of normal set menus, and brings classic cooking to the modern district.

Al Baraka

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:05:17 +0000

It’s easy to fancy yourself one of Morocco’s 19th-century elite in this grand, white-tile riad, once home to the pasha. Set menus for different budgets feature traditional briouates (spicy dumplings)as well as tagines and couscous. You have the choice of dining on brocade divans in the salon or in the enormous courtyard filled with orange trees, musicians, and the odd belly dancer. This is an experience you’ll remember.

La Porte D’Orient

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:03:48 +0000

From father to son since 1900, we have cultivated a passion for beauty and for objects d’art, expanding and enriching our collections year by year. Today, it is our pleasure to open them up to you for your enjoyment.

We are specialists in woodwork (arches, doors, windows, and ceilings) and are collectors of Islamic, Moroccan, and Oriental object d’art.

City Center

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:56:43 +0000

The centre of the city is the spice market by day but at night is converted into a fun and vibrant food court of sorts! All kinds of different cuisines are prepared and served at individual booths throughout the square. Take caution in some things you eat, you will see a little of everything! Even if you don’t eat anything, it is very interesting to see. It looks like something out of National Geographic magazine!!

Complexe D’Artisanat

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:55:40 +0000

Limited time? Fed up with bartering in the Souks? Try the fixed price shopping plaza in the Kasbah. This is purely a shopping stop, without the atmosphere and fun of the souk. But! This huge warehouse of a place does have the largest range of souvenirs in town, and some of real quality you won’t find anywhere else.

The prices are very fair and comparable to what you would achieve after a hard barter session in town. If you want a result without the work you can do no better.

Markets

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:54:20 +0000

The “red” city of Marrakesh is like no other in Morocco. Once a “must” for any hippie with wandering feet, Marrakesh is certainly used to housing tourists of all types. The Medina, or old town, attacts street performers including monkey handlers, snake charmers, and acrobats. Surrounding the main square are dried fruit stands and fresh orange juice vendors, with the markets only a few steps away.
The markets are much less daunting than those in other Moroccan cities (such as Fez) and all roads are meant to lead back to the main square. The front sections of the market are filled with silk, leather slippers, silver wares and jewlery, wood crafts and paintings. Bargaining is a sport in Marrakesh and most retailers will go to extremely lengths to make a sale.

It is possible (but not recommended) to venture off the beaten track into areas that sell electronics and metal good to the locals -our trio of young women found it best to avoid doing so in order to avoid the overly friendly overtures from the local men. We found throughout our trip in Morocco that men were excessively friendly but never intimidating - we seemed to be a curious sight and were seldom hassled.