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Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A mixture of orchards and olive groves surrounding the water reservoir with the central pavilion which is a popular sight on tourist postcards. Not a decorative garden, and now quite run down. The pavilion was built during the 16th-century Saadi dynasty, and renovated in 1869. It has a small cafe, but it is not open all hours. There are no toilets open when the cafe is closed.
The Menara Gardens are a historic public garden and orchard in Marrakesh, Morocco. They were established in the 12th century by the Almohad Caliphate ruler Abd al-Mu'min. Along with the Agdal Gardens and the historic walled city of Marrakesh, the gardens have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The gardens are laid out around a central water basin and reservoir, next to which is a pleasure pavilion dating in its current form from the 19th century. The reservoir and its pavilion, often framed in pictures against the background of the High Atlas Mountains to the south, are considered one of the iconic views and symbols of Marrakesh.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
massage, hammam, facials
Friendly staff, however, no English or French; other customers likely to help you out.
Named after the booksellers market that used to be located here. It is said that the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque is to Marrakech as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The minaret is visible from Gueliz which is connected to the Medina by Avenue Mohammed V. At night, the mosque is beautifully lit. The Almohad caliph Abd al-Mu'min founded the first mosque here in 1147 and built the present one beside it in 1158; the excavated remains of the first mosque can be seen on the esplanade next to it. The minaret was completed under Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184 to 1199), and has inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside.
Tourists-oriented in good sense: couples can have hammam together in a private room. Extensive list of massages and spa treatments from 30 min to a full day. Reception and attendants are proficient in speaking English, however, the scrubbing and massage personnel speak only very basic vocabulary. You need to book two days in advance.
Saadian Tombs. The tombs were built in the 16th century as the dynastic necropolis of the Saadian dynasty. The complex includes the Chamber of the Twelve Columns, the Chamber of the Mihrab, the Chamber of the Three Niches and the garden tombs. The site was rediscovered in 1917 and subsequently restored and opened to visitors. The site is relatively compact and most visitors can see the main areas in 20–30 minutes. The Chamber of the Twelve Columns cannot be entered: visitors look in from an opening at its edge, originally a window in the eastern wall, and often have to wait for a turn. The entrance passage is narrow, so arriving early can help avoid queues.
traditional Hamam
Friendly staff, however, no English or French (other locals helped without any problem)
The highlight of any Marrakech night. Musicians, dancers, and story tellers pack this square at the heart of the medina, filling it with a cacophony of drum beats and excited shouts. Scores of stalls sell a wide array of Moroccan fare (see the Eat section) and you will almost certainly be accosted by women wanting to give you a henna tattoo. Amateur boxing matches are sometimes held. Enjoy the various shows, but be prepared to give some dirham to watch or take photos. By day it is largely filled with snake charmers and people with monkeys, as well as some of the more common stalls.