Marrakech Attractions

Towering over the labyrinthine streets and markets of Marrakech is the city's principal landmark, the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque. The red stone mosque was first built in 1147, but demolished and rebuilt in 1199 because it was not correctly aligned with Mecca. The mosque, basically a massive prayer hall, has 17 aisles and 112 columns, and room for thousands to pray within it.

The large town square of Marrakech, Djemaa el-Fna (Square of the Dead) makes up for in pulsating liveliness that belies its name. Every day the square is a colourful circus of performing artists where snake charmers, musicians, storytellers and healers vie with each other to be noticed by the milling crowds. In the evening food stalls take over, offering anything from boiled snails and sheep's heads to thick vegetable soup, kebabs or fresh salads.

This once magnificent palace was built by the Sa'adian king, Ahmed Al Mansour, in 1578. It was one of the finest in the world, with 360 rooms sumptuously decorated in marble, gold, onyx, ivory, cedar wood and semi-precious stones, surrounding a vast central courtyard of pools, fountains and sunken gardens. Little remains of its glory days and the ruins of the battlements surround a vast empty space where the once sumptuous gardens and palace rooms stood.