Historical and cultural tour

02:00 PM to 05:00 PM
Guided tours (Private tours)
Free Cancellation before 12 hours
Day Tour

No better introduction to any culture than its architecture and the historical cohabitation of different ethnicities and religions.

Our tour starts from where we meet, at 02:00 PM, In front of the CAFE DE FRANCE at the famous Jemaa El Fan Square, Rue des banks.

After a reminder briefing concerning the program and the way we should proceed as a shared group, we head towards Bahia palace our first programmed site through hundreds of small shops along both sides of a narrow street forming a branch of the souk leading to the south of the Medina. The 19th-century Bahia palace is located at the Mellah quarter’s northern edge (Jewish quarter).

Not far Badii Palace is located at southern part of the medina it’s an exemple of the glorious of the Saadian dinasty’s hitory, partly ruined but still many underground gallerys and foot level gardens, and many exhibitions of all antique and premitive object and articals collected from different part of Morocco.

After this comes the Mellah quarter with its souk of spices and its 15th-century Slat Lazama Synagogue (closed saturday) for religious reasons.

We walk back through a different part of the Souk towards the very famous Jamaa Lafna Square where our tour does end.

Planning

Badia Palace

As 16th-century Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour (r 1578-1603) was paving the Badia Palace with gold, turquoise and crystal, his court jester wisecracked, ‘It’ll make a beautiful ruin.’ That jester was no fool: at the beginning of the 18th century, the place was destroyed by Sultan Moulay Ismail and materials carried off to then-capital Meknes. Today only remnants remain, watched over by nesting storks. There are magnificent views from the ramparts, and in 2018 a renovation added some exhibitions.

Construction began in 1578, the same year the sultan ascended to the throne. Al Mansour came to be known as ‘the golden king’ and was the longest-ruling and most famous of all the Saadian dynasty rulers, as well as the last of his line. During Al Mansour’s reign, Badia was the most impressive palace in the western reaches of the Muslim world – now only Badia’s vast courtyard, with its four sunken gardens and reflecting pools, give a hint of its former majesty. A CGI film on loop in a room along the ruin’s far eastern back wall shows what some areas of the palace would have looked like – historians believe it was designed in imitation of the grand Moorish palaces of Andalusia in southern Spain.

The ruin’s subterranean chambers house two exhibitions, one a photographic history of the Kasbah and Mellah area from the 1920s to 1950s, the other an underwhelming exhibition about the conditions for slaves and prisoners who would have once resided in these underground caverns. Across the vast courtyard (opposite the entrance), the Khayzuran Pavilion houses temporary contemporary art exhibitions.

The Mellah quarter, (Jewish quarter)

The Mellah quarter, (Jewish quarter) is part of the fabric of the city, a liminal space for the Muslims inhabitants of the city. This was an exclusive area for the Jewish community, and in which Muslims were allowed to enter in the daytime but remained closed at night, a space in which Muslims came to pursue economic activities and pay reverence to the Muslim saints found in the area, an area that Muslims identify with as part of Marrakech. Yet, it was also a space that was “betwixt and between” because, it was not a Muslim area.

The Mellah quarter of Marrakech is one of the biggest Jewish quarters of Morocco created by the Jews arrived from Spain and Portugal.

These Jews, known in Hebrew as the Megorashim, or the exiles, changed the make-up of the Moroccan Jewish by introducing new customs.

In the middle of this quarter, the Slat Lazama Synagogue is as old as the last wave of Sephardic Jews arrived in Marrakesh and was built by them in 1492.

Bahia Palace

Bahia palace is a 19th century vast dwelling, built by Si Musa, the grand vizier of the Sultan of Morocco 1859.

The palace was enlarged by his son Ahmed Ben Musa known as Ba Ahmed who a regent; the effective ruler of Morocco as the Sultan was only sixteen.

Today, the palace is the most visited touristic site in Marrakesh.

The eight thousand meters square site contains Riads, courtyards, gardens, and corridors linking its different parts.

Built in in an Islamic and Moorish architecture style that was and still predominates the luxurious and lavish palaces and residences.

Meeting point

In front of the Poste office at the famous Jemaa El Fan Square. (View on Google Maps)

Time

Monday-Sunday: 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Inclusive Of

Professional Guide
Local guide

Not Inclusive Of

Drinks
Gratuities
Entrance fees are not included in the price (most of the monuments cost 7$ per person)
Pick up & drop off

Cancellation Policy

No free cancellations before 12 hours of departure, refunds, or changes can be made after payments.

Highlights

Visit the incredible sights of Marrakech and see the Bahia Palace, Culinary Arts Museum and the Mellah quarter.
Explore the Medina, admire the varying architecture styles and learn everything there is to know about the land and its people
Learn authentic Moroccan cooking techniques
Enhance your knowledge of Moroccan kitchen on a guided tour

Photos

FAQ

When is my booking confirmed?

If you have received a confirmation email, then your booking is confirmed.

Can i change my booking?

You are able to amend your booking free of charge (subject to availability) in line with our Amendments & Cancellations policy (see our Booking Conditions).
Please note that tickets for Features Of Marrakech and Attractions are non-refundable and non-changeable.

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