“Marrakesh is a place of mystery. A destination wanted by all travelers.”

Marrakech stands out on the “once on a life time travel destination” along with other known world cities as Paris in France, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Rome in Italy, New York City in USA, Lisbon in Portugal, Istanbul in Turkey, Samarkand in Uzbekistan or Cairo in Egypt. At least once in a lifetime you have to visit Marrakech.

Marrakesh offers a wide choice of activities. If you’re looking for culture, museums and monuments, Marrakech has an outstanding number of well preserved palaces, madrasas and open air museums and gardens.

If you’re traveling for shopping, spa, hammam and massage, disco & nightclubs or fancy restaurants in Marrakech, the city gets you on the move and will keep you busy for a couple of days and nights.

If you’re looking for adventure you can do some camel trekking in the beautiful palm groves or engage on a Sahara Desert 4X4 adventure tour in Morocco or go skiing in the Atlas Mountains.

Whatever you desire during your holidays Marrakech makes it possible. Marrakesh endless markets will make you loose the notion of time while you walk around open air street markets (called souks), shopping for exotic and exquisite handicraft.

You’ll have plenty of local shops, workshops with artisans working in loco, and you can buy that so long wanted Moroccan carpet or Moroccan lamp that will so perfectly fit and decorate your house back home.

Marrakech 7 Holy Saints, Patron Saints of Marrakech

Very interesting and somehow unknown fact about Marrakech, is that the city in its imaginary and ancient believes, is protected by seven saints. Although the belief of saints if against the religion of Islam, Morocco falls into this interesting and unique tradition in the Arabic / Islamic world. Below some photos of the Mausoleum of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

Photos of the Mausoleum of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

Photos of the Mausoleum of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

The Seven Patron Saints of Marrakech serve everyday of the week, as for Monday is Sidi es Soheili; for Tuesday: Sidi Youssef Ben Ali; for Wednesday: Qadi Ayad; for Thursday: Sidi Bel Abbes; for Friday: Sidi Ben Slimane el Jazouli; for Saturday: Sidi Abd el Aziz; and finally for Sunday: Moul el Ksour. During the 18th century reign of the Sultan Moulay Ismail, the pilgrimage called ziara was made official and institutionalized. The ziara pilgrimage of the tombs of the Seven Patron Saint of Marrakech brings pilgrims to visit the seven patron saints and meditate each day in one of the mausoleums called zaouias.

Although the visit of the mausoleums of these holy men of Marrakech is closed to non-Muslims, you can always try to go there and respectfully pay your entrance, donating a small contribution to the local guardian, usually a woman (10 Dirhams is enough). Dress conveniently with no shorts, take your shoes out on the entrance (watch out for shoe robbers), and if you’re a woman covering your head is a must. Below some photos of the Mausoleum of Qadi Ayad, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

Photos of the Mausoleum of Qadi Ayad, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

Photos of the Mausoleum of Qadi Ayad, Patron Saint of Marrakech.

Staying in Marrakech, Profiting from an amazing travel destination

While staying on a Riad in Marrakech, ask for a map of Marrakech at the riad reception and loose a couple of minutes trying to understand Marrakech districts and main streets and famous squares. This will help you not getting lost and wander around the old city of Marrakech a little bit more relaxed and enjoying its “chaotic exoticism” with open mind and free for new experiences and sensations.

Make it possible to end your day on a private hammam. Contact your Riad manager in the morning and book a hammam and massage to cease your day in that perfect mood to go to diner with your partner and make a great evening happen.

A massage in Morocco is a great way to know the “hammam” culture that is somehow common also throughout the Middle East, but Moroccan hammam differs from Turkish bath on the ritual and the way people interact inside the hot steam baths and black soap scrubs. An unique experience.

Marrakech has a considerable number of monuments, palaces, gardens and museums around it’s old city. Between many, the most well known are:

Djemaa El-Fna Square, Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, The souks (markets), Marrakech Museum, Emsemble Artisanal, Majorelle Gardens, Menara Gardens, Dar Si Said Museum, Ben Youssef Madrassa, Bahia Palace, el Badi Palace, Dar Tiskiwin, Foundation Dar Bellarj, Criée Berbère Square, the Almoravid Qoubba, the leather Tanneries and Foundouk Moulay Hfid Textile Factory. For a big page with all the destinations / where to go / what to visit in Marrakech, please click here: Marrakech Monuments. Enjoy Marrakech!