Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Old city to New
Morning
Start next to the Koutoubia
Mosque and head up
Avenue Mohammed V.
After a few minutes you
will come to
Ensemble
Artisanal
(see p70)
on the
right, a government-run
handicraft store. Over the
road is
Arset Moulay
Abdesslem
(see p43)
known as “Cyber Park ,
after its internet centre.
Exit the medina from
Mohammed V through the
Bab Nkob, plunging into
the large traffic island,
Place de la Liberté. A
second left after the
traffic junction, followed by
the first right, will lead you
to historic
Église des
Saints-Martyrs de
Marrakech
(see p75).
Continue north up Avenue
Yacoub Marini to reach
Jnane El Harti
park.
Lunch at the
Grand Café
de la Poste
(see p79)
,
hidden from view behind
the main post office.
The old Cinema Palace, Spanish Quarter
the buildings are not a uniform
shade of pink. You will find
instead houses painted in a
variety of bright colours.
d
Map B5
(
Jnane El Harti
A small and very pretty park
just off Place du 16 Novembre, it
was originally laid out by the
French as a formal garden and
zoo. In a 1939 essay titled
“Marrakech , George Orwell
(see
p34)
writes of feeding gazelles
here. Numerous notices provide
information about the various
species of plants growing in the
many flowerbeds. The plaza
fronting the park gates is often
used for events.
d
Map C5
)
Hivernage
Afternoon
The road next to
McDonald's leads to the
Marché Central
,
(see
p78)
, a worthwhile 15-
minute detour. Return to
Mohammed V for some of
the best shopping in town,
particularly around
Rue de
la Liberté
(see p78)
. The
next major traffic inter-
section, Place Abdel
Moumen Ben Ali, is
overlooked by two
pavement cafés:
Les
Negociants
and
Atlas
(see p54)
; if you're after
some authentic Moroccan
food, try
Al Fassia
(see
p79)
on Boulevard
Mohammed Zerktouni. You
have the option of several
good restaurants if you
fancy a meal
(see p79)
.
A taxi back to the medina
will cost around 20 Dh.
South of Guéliz and
immediately west of the medina
walls, Hivernage is a small neigh-
bourhood of quiet streets that
are shaded by trees. Its mix of
villas and a handful of five-star
hotels ensures a tranquil atmos-
phere with light pedestrian
traffic. There are one or two
good restaurants in the area,
including the city's favourite
nightspot, Comptoir
(see p54)
.
d
Map C6
77
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