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Guide Location: Morocco » Marrakech
Guide Type: Self-guided city tour
# of Attractions: 12
Tour Duration: 3 hour(s)
Transportation Mode: by foot
Travel Distance: 7.0 km
Guide Type: Self-guided city tour
# of Attractions: 12
Tour Duration: 3 hour(s)
Transportation Mode: by foot
Travel Distance: 7.0 km
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Luc Viatour
Author: ann
No tall skyscrapers, no sophisticated giant malls, no nothing to remind of the Western architecture. This tour is all about genuine Moroccan style. Featuring the most prominent architectural sights, this tour takes you to places that will amaze you with their mystic atmosphere, traditional motifs, and majestic structures. Every single building here has its own legend. So find time to discover the best of the Marrakech's architecture by taking the self-guided tour below.
Tour Stops and Attractions
1) Royal Palace
Though the inside of the Royal Palace is not accessible to the public, it is still a must to visit it if you are after beautiful architectural sights. The palace is surrounded by the alluring Agdal Gardens. It is also known as Dar el Makhzen.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and builtboyle
2) Bab Ksiba
Dating back to the 12th century, Bab Ksiba is a gate located in the Kasbah district of the Medina. The gate is well known for the huge eucalyptus tree growing nearby. The gate is part of the defensive wall built around Medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Maverickhawkesley
3) Bab Agnaou
Along with the Bab Ksiba, Bab Agnaou is among the 19 gates of the defensive wall of Medina. It dates back to the 12th century. The gate is also known as Bab al Kohl or Bab al Qsar. Bab Agnaou is well known for its rich decorations and inscriptions. It is both a historic and an architectural sight.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Donarreiskoffer
4) Mansouria Mosque
Mansouria Mosque was built by Yakub al-Mansur, the Victorious. It is also known as the Kasbah Mosque and is located in the vicinity of Bab Agnaou. Mansouria Mosque is one of the city's most popular mosques. There is no access for non-Muslims, but you can admire the impressive architecture from the outside.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and MsAnthea
5) Saadian Tombs
Surrounded by charming gardens, the Saadian Tombs represent a sacred complex which consists of 2 mausoleums and 66 tombs within them. Though the tombs date back to the 16th century, they were only rediscovered in 1917. The beauty and the multitude of the statues, rich and colorful decorations, Arabic scripts, and carvings make the Saadian Tombs a unique attraction definitely worth visiting.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Luc Viatour
6) El Badi Palace
Built in 1578, El Badi gives an idea of what the majestic palace of Ahmad al-Mansur looked like back in the 16th century: 360 rooms, huge courtyard, large pool, and rich decoration made of Italian marble. Though most of the building is nothing more than the remains of what used to be a great palace, a part of the structure was restored and opened to public.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Bradrick J. Pretzer
7) Bahia Palace
Intended to be the greatest architectural piece of its time, Bahia Palace represents a mix of Islamic and Moroccan architectural styles. The palace was built during the last period of the 19th century. It features spacious, magnificent gardens. The building itself is very well preserved.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Daniel Csörföly
8) Museum of Moroccan Arts (Dar Si Said)
Originally a Berber palace, Dar Si Said has been well preserved and restored. Now the home of the Museum of Moroccan Arts, the interior of the building is rich in Hispano-Moorish decorations. It attracts thousands of tourists every year due to both its architecture and rich heritage collections.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and zongo69
9) Koutoubia Mosque
Built in the 12th century, Koutoubia Mosque is the biggest mosque in Marrakech. It features a 69 meter tower and 4 copper globes. Legend has it that originally the globes were made of pure gold and replaced afterwards with copper ones.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and joaomaximo
10) Maison Tiskiwin (Musée Bert Flint)
Visiting Maison Tiskiwin can take you on a journey along the Gold Road to Timbuktu. This traditional Moroccan house offers its visitors a variety of national costumes, jewelry, tools, and carpets which have been collected for over 50 years by art historian Bert Flint.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and Vince Millett
11) Almoravid Koubba
This is the only Almoravid building remaining in Morocco and also the oldest structure in Marrakech. It is also known as the Koubba Ba'adiyn. Almoravid Koubba dates back to 1117. It is well known for its architecture featuring motifs of pine cones, palms, and acanthus leaves.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and kashmir
12) Ben Youssef Madrasa
Once an Islamic college, Ben Youssef Madrasa is an important historic and religious site. It was built during the 14th century and successfully functioned till 1960. It was restored and opened to the public in 1982.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and China_Crisis
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