Marrakech
Founded nearly 1,000 years ago, Marrakech should be on every traveller’s wishlist, its bustling souks and fabled Djemaa el-Fna a striking contrast to its peaceful gardens and the cosseted comforts of its luxury hotels.
There is nowhere quite like the ‘Red City’ of Marrakech. At its heart is the Djemaa el-Fna, a huge medieval square that comes alive at night with an ever-changing cast of soothsayers, snake charmers, hawkers and food vendors. North of the square are the city’s maze-like souks, a sprawling lattice of narrow alleyways that resound with the hum of industry and the smells of exotic spices. To the south is the city’s most venerated monument, the 70-metre-tall Koutoubia Minaret, which has watched over the city since the Almohads erected it in the 12th century.
Marrakech is undoubtedly an assault on the senses, but its numerous gardens provide wonderful pockets of peace and tranquility. Some of the best are the Majorelle Gardens, bought by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1980s. His ashes were scattered here when he died in 2008 and there’s a museum on site devoted to his work.
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Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
Discover a cool, contemporary oasis set in ten acres of fragrant grounds dotted with olive trees, within easy reach of Marrakech’s foremost sights and city centre attractions. Moroccan heritage meets Oriental charm as fabulous 5 [...]
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The Oberoi, Marrakech
Set in an old citrus and olive farm with cinematic views of the High Atlas, this beautifully decorated resort has been designed to resemble a traditional Moroccan palace and offers both mountain-view rooms and villas with private [...]
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Royal Mansour Marrakech
If you’re looking to be pampered like the sultans of old then Royal Mansour is the hotel for you. Owned and designed by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, the hotel was conceived as a city within a city – and could certainly pass f [...]
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