Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
%
The Kissaria
The Seven Saints
Marrakech has seven patron
saints, all of whom are believed
to be sleeping and will one day
rise again. The medina is dotted
with the green-roofed shrines of
the saints, all off limits to non-
Muslims, though it is possible to
walk through the outer precincts
of the Shrine of Sidi Bel Abbes.
Once a year, pilgrims flood into
the city to visit a shrine a day.
The deepest part of the
souks, the
kissaria
is a tight
grouping of narrow, parallel alleys
that run, much like the rungs of
a ladder, between the Souk El
Kebir and Souk des Babouches.
Most of the shops are no bigger
than cupboards and the passage-
way between them scarcely
wide enough for two people to
pass. A visit here is like stepping
into the past, until a shopkeeper
enquires whether you'd like to
pay by cash or card.
d
Map K2
^
Musée de Marrakech
&
Medersa Ben Youssef
North of the Musée de
Marrakech, the Medersa is an
even more stunning building. A
16th-century theological college,
it has tiny, windowless cells for
several hundred students and a
still functioning bathroom. The
real glory, however, is the central
courtyard, which combines poly-
chromic tiling, decorative plaster-
work and carved-wood panelling
to sublime effect
(see pp22-3)
.
*
Koubba El Badiyin
While the museum's exhibits
are generally unengaging - the
rotating collection includes cera-
mics and a thin collection of
traditional crafts - the building
itself is splendid. A finely resto-
red 19th-century palace, it once
belonged to a member of the
royal court. An impressive central
court has an imposing chandelier,
while the former
hammam
makes
an unusual exhibition space.
d
Map K2 • Place Ben Youssef • 0524 44 18
93 • Open 9am-6pm daily (except religious
holidays) • Adm • www.musee.ma
The dusty open plaza across
the Musée de Marrakech is
named after the Ben Youssef
Mosque, lying beyond a wall on
the north side. Although non-
Muslims are forbidden to enter
the mosque, all visitors are
allowed into the Koubba El
Badiyin, a small domed structure
that sits alone in its own garden.
This is the only surviving structure
from the Almoravids era, the
founders of Marrakech. The
underside of the dome carries a
beautiful eight-pointed star motif.
d
Map K2 • Place Ben Youssef • 0524
44 18 93 • Open Apr-Sep 9am-6pm daily;
Oct-Mar 9am-6pm daily (except religious
holidays) • Adm • www.musee.ma
(
The Tanneries
A strong stomach is required
to visit this particular quarter of
the medina. This is where animal
The Tanneries
68
A “three monuments” pass for 60 Dh gives admission to Musée
de Marrakech, Medersa Ben Youssef and the Koubba El Badiyin.
