Dazzled by Morocco’s Desert City
Dazzled by Morocco’s Desert City
The desert city of Marrakech has been wowing travellers for decades – and its allure remains undimmed.
There’s a monkey tugging at my shoulder and someone’s trying to drape a snake around my neck.
I’m beseeched by a fortune-teller and hailed by a juice stall vendor. Clouds of swirling brazier smoke envelop me amid throbbing drums and chiming cymbals. Al fresco chefs beckon cheerily from their portable kitchens and tables heaving with food and goats’ heads. Perhaps I should simply retire to my riad’s tranquil courtyard and lounge like a pasha in a candlelit alcove surrounded by burgundy cushions and the rich scent of citrus trees.
The desert city of Marrakech has been wowing travellers for decades – and its allure remains undimmed. It is the ideal bridge for those hoping for a touch of luxury and those who demand the earthier, more exotic Morocco which takes over even before you’ve breached the city walls.
Don’t miss…
The name may mean “Place of the Dead” but this remains the heart and soul of the city. Bounded by souks, cafés and juice stalls, it plays host to entertainers, eateries, storytellers and acrobats.
The Medina and Souks
The old quarter’s maze of lanes and alleys is home to a compelling mix of boutiques, shops, workshops and bazaars. Shopping and wandering go hand in hand.
Bahia Palace
A 19th-century palace built by a former slave-turned-prime minister of the ruling sultan. A series of beautiful courtyards and halls is embellished with every trick and nuance in the Moroccan style-book.
Maison Tiskiwin
Sometimes known as the Bert Flint Museum. Flint was a Dutch traveller and collector who assembled an impressive array of artefacts and collectables originating not just from Morocco but also the Saharan regions to its south.
This 12-acre botanical garden with surreal cobalt-blue walls was created in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle. However it was Yves Saint Laurent – who owned it for nearly three decades until his death in 2008 – who lent it prominence.
If you are looking for accommodation, then look no further than us at Kensington Morocco.
How to get to Marrakech from England –
There are daily flights to Marrakech from Heathrow with BMI. Ryanair flies from Luton and Stansted. While British Airways and easyJet compete from Gatwick.
See also:
Morocco's economy set to strengthen - liberalisation of Dirham
Set among olive trees and date palms, this Moroccan villa is for sale
