Bahia Palace, Marrakech (must see)

The Bahia Palace in Marrakech is one of the finest examples of late 19th-century Moroccan architecture, built to showcase the wealth and status of its owners. Construction began in the 1860s under the grand vizier of Sultan Muhammad IV and was later expanded by his son, Ba Ahmed, who served as regent of Morocco until 1900. The name “Bahia,” meaning “brilliance” in Arabic, reflects the intention behind the palace: to create a masterpiece of beauty, craftsmanship, and luxury. Although much of its original furniture and decoration was removed after Ba Ahmed’s death, the palace itself remains an exceptional expression of power and refined taste.

What makes the Bahia Palace particularly fascinating is not just its scale but its intricate design. The complex includes grand reception halls, intimate private rooms, open courtyards, gardens of cypress and orange trees, and elaborate decorative details at every turn. Carved cedar ceilings, zellige tilework, stucco patterns, and painted wooden panels demonstrate the highest level of craftsmanship of the period. Unlike traditional palaces arranged along a strict central axis, the Bahia consists of multiple irregular wings added over time, giving it a layered and almost labyrinthine character.

As you enter the palace grounds through a horseshoe archway, you are met by a path lined with orange trees, cypresses, hibiscus, and palms. The Grand Courtyard is the highlight of the palace and can be reached by walking straight ahead from the main entrance through a sequence of smaller rooms and courtyards. Once there, you can admire the delicate blue and yellow arches surrounding the courtyard. Together with the central fountain and the marble-tiled floor, the Grand Courtyard blends beautifully with the open sky above.

The palace carries strong cultural resonance, embodying the height of 19th-century Moroccan aristocratic life on the eve of the French Protectorate.