Tips from Marrakech local guide .

Tips from Marrakech Local guide:

Like Meknes, Rabat and Fez , Marrakech bears the title of an Imperial City .

Yes for centuries , the red city  was even the capital of the kingdom twice.

For this reason , Marrakech has much more to offer than a picture postcard .

Undoubtly , it  is not only limited to the souks , ramparts adobe   ,  riads .

It is also the maze of  medina that life is in full swing and your sensory experience will be unique!

Thanks to its past history, Marrakech has managed to combine tradition and modernity.

In the new city, you will see the face of a trendy and cosmopolitan Marrakech.
Its airy quarters and its gardens are worth seeing because, here too, authenticity is essential!

Today with the help of a well-experienced guide  , we will share with you some of the favourite things to do in Marrakech, so you can experience the living city behind the crowded attractions.

Why did you become a guide ?

To be a guide for me, it’s a lot of fun and Tips from Marrakech local guide blog explains it .

Actually , I choose it for many reasons and I will share some of them with you as follows :

• -the ability to be the direct link between visitors and a place is incredible.
• Being their travel companion for a while makes you a member of their memory of this place.
• – You can interact with so many people, it never gets boring. You can ,,likewise make some friends along the way.
• -It’s great to share anecdotes and personal stories with the group behind the places you visit to spark their interest.
• -Most importantly, you travel, explore the world, meet new people and new cultures and hang out in cities or countries that are dear to you.

What’s one local food specialty everyone visiting Marrakech should try?

Tanjia of course !
According to tradition this dish is prepared mostly by men.

Tanjia, like tajine, also takes its name from the utensil in which it is cooked.

To obtain Tanjia, beef or mutton is simmered for several hours on  ashes of in a furnace.

Spices, meat , saffron , salty butter makes tanjia a good treat for anyone.

What is the best place to go for a memorable photo?

I suggest the list of new places in Marrakech , where you can take pretty original photos.

Whether you are a blogger, an addict of Instagram ,you can take wonderful and stunning photographs.

• -The Badii Palace is an old palace that the Saadian ruler Ahmed El Mansour Ed-Dahbi built to celebrate his victory in over the Portuguese army.
• -The Majorelle Garden is  one of the best spots  in Marrakech which worths a stop .
• Souks of Marrakech: Marrakech is undoubtedly a tourist destination for shoppers and picture lovers.
• –Médersa Ben Youssef is a Koranic school that exists since 1570 in the heart of the medina of Marrakech. It is a must-see place  during a visit to Marrakech.

What are the best places you advise tourists to visit in Marrakech ?

First , the 12 century ramparts which were built  to protect the city against the attackers.

You will see that the walls are not smooth, but they have innumerable holes.

Originally, these holes were those left by the scaffolding during construction.

But the workers realized that the walls of the ramparts were more resistant to weather and climate when they were not blocked.

That’s why nowadays we can see these holes!

The Koutoubia Mosque:

The greatest pride of Marrakchis and one of the most beautiful mosques in Morocco.

We can see this building from the hinterlands.

On the other hand, non-Muslims do not have the right to get in.

Yes it is a law that  the French protectorate established at the beginning of the 20th century concerning all mosques in Morocco.

The Koutoubia mosque is considered as a Masterpiece of work !

Jemaa El Fna Square:

 We can see the snake charmers, spice dealers, jugglers, herbalists, horse-drawn carriages, a total change of scenery.

This place is a  UNESCO world heritage  from May 2011, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Jemaa El Fna square is the heart of the city, around which we can find the souks and the museums …
It is a good place either if you want to have a cheap yet delicious dinner .

The Koranic school Medersa Ben Youssef:

It is a place steeped in history. You can still see the multiple student rooms on the first floor.

Indeed some children came from all over the country to study the Koran.

At the time, Muslims should know the Koran by heart before starting a school course.

From the rooms you can see a magnificent cobblestone courtyard on the ground floor, with a fountain in the middle, carved walls and other intricacies.
Very famous, it’s a must visit during your stay in Marrakech!

Visit the Saadian Tombs:

It was a completely forgotten place, until the beginning of the 19th century.

Actually ,  a French aviator passed over this area and discovered it .

It is essential if you go to the Medina. You will not be insensitive to the architecture of the tombs, their mosaics, their sculptures, but also to the history that goes with it.

Do not miss the Palace of Bahia :

the vizier of Sultan Moulay Hassan I built the palace during the 19 th century .

It was, in its time, the largest and most luxurious palace in Morocco.

Furthermore, the  architecture of this palace is one of the masterpieces of Moroccan culture.

You can see a succession of sumptuous apartments, reception rooms, shady courtyards, gardens and fountains.

let’s move on outside the ramparts and see what we can discover !

The Garden of Menara is to see:

 

 

It consists essentially of a large olive grove and a huge pool  to train the Moroccan soldiers to fight in the aquatic environment.

Nowadays , this basin serves as a reservoir for the water that comes down from the mountains, in order to water the garden.

The basin is 160 by 200 meters.

The name Menara comes from the small pavilion which is located at the edge of this basin. For my part, I found this visit very interesting for its historical side, however, this garden is also famous for its beauty.

The palm grove of Marrakech:

To see one of the most beautiful palm groves of Marrakech, you have to take the road to Fez.

Then , take a camel ride in the palm grove and cherish every moment of it .

Crossing the picturesque villages  is the most authentic view you can enjoy in Marrakech.

Don t miss the berber lands:

On a full day, from Marrakech, you can go in 4 × 4 with guides on the Berber lands.

Inquire at the tourist office for schedules and different circuits.

The journey in general is about 140 kilometers and passes in different typical villages.

Passing through Tifriouine for lunch, Ouiziln for learning how to make Moroccan tea, the plateau of Kik for sumptuous landscapes, you will have something to do during this excursion!

The Majorelle Garden a real haven of peace:

 

The amazing garden bears the name of its creator Jacques Majorelle, a

painter and lover of botany. This is where the majorelle blue color comes from.

This garden is one of the most mysterious places  of the twentieth century .

It is a place of mystical strength and rare personal expression.

It includes a superabundance of cactus representing the five continents.

Since then , Jacques Majorelle becomes the largest plant collector of his time.

Afterwards, Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé baught and restored the botanical garden.

Today, the ashes of Yves Saint-Laurent himself rests in this space of purity.