The History of the Medina in Marrakech
Marrakech has been steadily increasing in popularity with tourists in recent years, with more and more affordable routes popping up from Europe. The major northern African city is just a three and a half hour flight from London, and is a city steeped in exotic culture and fascinating history.
The Medina is Marrakech’s old town. This 11th century Islamic capital used to be an economic, cultural and social powerhouse in the Western Islamic world for Muslims residing in northern Africa and Spain’s Andalucia. The area is bursting with grand monuments dating back to this period, from exquisite mosques, such as the Koutoubia Mosque with its towering 77 metre minaret and fine brass adornment.
In the 1960s, Marrakech became a ‘hippie mecca’, and hosted many of the biggest music and film stars of the era. The souks of the Medina provided the perfect place for them to fulfil all their bohemian fantasies, from luxurious Moroccan fabrics to what was then considered exotic food and spices.
To this day, the Medina remains an extremely popular part of Marrakech, with the Jamaa El-Fna acting as an open air theatre, particularly at night when life is breathed into the area by a host of dancers, snake charmers, musicians and street entertainers. A series of stalls selling authentic Moroccan goods and delicious snacks and meals can be found around the perimeter of the square, and unlike the tourist traps found in most cities, the square is a genuinely Moroccan experience.
Another notable element of the Medina is the traditional riads. A riad is a Moroccan palace or large, multi-generational family home, comprising a central courtyard surrounded by the living quarters. Tucked away in the labyrinthine streets of the city, it can be easy to forget all the grandeur inside these secretly majestic architectural wonders. In a typically Islamic fashion, the exteriors are often plain, with few pointers informing guests what they might find inside. Many of these riads are now used as accommodation, ranging from the traditionally Moroccan to the luxuriously renovated, with the best riads in Marrakech now featuring pools, terrace gardens and spa facilities.
The Medina has been largely preserved owing to the development of the modern neighbourhood Gueliz, which contains most of the city’s major banks and shops. The two areas are connected by Avenue Mohammed V. It is the Medina that makes Marrakech the cultural and tourism capital of Morocco, despite being only the fourth largest city in the country.
Emma Lawson is a travel enthusiast writing about the best destinations and things to see and do in the world.
