Marrakesh, The exotic mysteries of millennial city
This centuries old imperial city located in the center of Morocco is a voyage through time. Through its narrow winding streets, high old medina ramparts, minarets, riads, and palaces, with gardens that take you on a trip through medieval storybooks. apart from the city's own inherent charm, its central location within the country and its proximity to both the snow capped atlas mountains, and the edge of the great Sahara desert, make it a starting point for a diverse range of activities and adventures in a way that is unique to marrakesh.
If one was short on time and resources and had to visit one place that sumps up the essence of the country of Morocco. Marrakesh would have to be the place to go see. The city is serviced by a nearby airport with connections to almost all major European airports. The city was founded in 1062 to be the imperial seat of the Almoravid Dynasty which ruled Morocco and parts of Spain and Portugal. The new section is devoid of character and serves the purpose of a population center. Inside the ancient medina walls, however, lies the beating heart of the city. Place Jemaa El Fna, is a large plaza that has for over 800 years welcomed a frenzy of food vendors, story tellers, snake charmers and other performers and captures the essence of Moroccan folklore.
The city has a multitude of old houses called “riads” with central water gardens, which make you forget the uninspiring outer shell.
Majorelle Garden, is a house designed by a French artist Jacques Majorelle and owned by another French celebrity, Yves Saint-Laurent, until his death in 2008. The house sites on 12 acres of cactus botanical and landscape garden and houses a Museum of textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and paintings by Majorelle.
The Menara gardens, built in the 12th century, with a central lighthouse and an artificial lake that uses old underground channels to irrigate the adjacent groves with water from the mountains about 20 miles away.
