Morocco - attractions - Countries Guide

Koutoubia Mosque
Towering over the labyrinthine streets and markets of Marrakech is the city's principal landmark, the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, known as the 'mosque of the booksellers' because of the bazaar of the book traders that used to be nearby. The red stone mosque was first built in 1147, but demolished and rebuilt in 1199 because it was not correctly aligned with Mecca. The mosque, basically a massive prayer hall, has 17 aisles and 112 columns, and room for thousands to pray within it. The ornately carved minbar (pulpit) is believed to have been a gift from the Almoravid Sultan Ali ben Youssef. The landmark minaret is 221ft (69m) high and consists of six chambers one atop the other, ascended by a ramp through which the muezzin ascends to the top balcony. The mosque is closed to non-Muslims, but the area around is a favourite place for an evening stroll.
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Djemaa el-Fna
What it lacks in beauty, the large town square of Marrakech, Djemaa el-Fna (Square of the Dead) makes up for in pulsating liveliness that belies its name. Every day the square is a colourful circus of performing artists where snake charmers, musicians, storytellers and healers vie with each other to be noticed by the milling crowds; every evening food stalls take over and the competition is fierce among them for the passing trade, offering anything from boiled snails and sheep's heads to thick vegetable soup, kebabs or fresh salads. Freshly squeezed orange juice stalls stand side by side encircling the market and offer a refreshing drink both day and night. The square is a fascinating place to sit awhile at one of the surrounding cafes, watching the swirling parade. The square is also the gateway to the souks (bazaars) of Marrakech, tucked away in the surrounding labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys. It is easy to lose your way, but well worth exploring the plethora of craftsmen offering their wares. Bargain for anything from water mugs and dates to exotic Moroccan carpets. The souks are also well shaded from the searing Moroccan sun and therefore provide a respite from the heat.
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Dar Si Saïd Museum
The Museum, housed in a palace on the Riad Ezzitoun El Jadid, depicts the arts, crafts and culture of the Berber people, including displays of some Moorish cedarwood furniture, and artefacts from every day life in the Sahara desert. There is also a collection of door and window frames, elaborately carved and ornamented, in the museum courtyard.
Telephone: (044) 442 464
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Opening times: Daily 8.30am to 11.45am; and 2.30pm to 5.45pm; closed Tuesdays

Saadian Tombs
The beautiful necropolis was built by the Saadian Sultan Ahmed el Mansour in the late 16th century as a final resting place for himself and his successors. There are 66 indoor tombs, lavishly decorated with colourful, intricate mosaics. The central mausoleum, the Hall of the Twelve Columns, is exceptionally ornate with a high vaulted roof, furnished with stunning carved cedar panels and columns of grey Italian marble.
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Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, 8am to 12pm and 2.30pm to 6pm

Karaouine Mosque
Non-Muslims may not enter this huge mosque, in the heart of the Fes El Bali (Medina), which has been a centre of Islamic learning for more than a thousand years, but often the doors stand open and it is certainly worth taking a look inside. The mosque is surrounded by numerous madrasas (Islamic schools), many of which are open to the public. The most famous of these is the Attarin Madrasa, built in the early 14th century, which features a beautiful bronze door and elegant courtyard with some impressive marble, alabaster and cedar wood decoration.
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Tanneries
Morocco is famous for producing high quality soft leather. It is recommended that only those with strong stomachs visit the tanner's quarter, close to the Karaouine Mosque, which despite its odorous reputation has become one of Fezs' main attractions. Visitors can ascend to any one of the terraces belonging to the surrounding leather shops that look down on the fascinating tanners' yard, honeycombed with vats of dye and piled with skins (it is expected that you will at least look around the shop afterwards, and if nothing is bought a tip to the shop owner is required). The reason for the bad smell is chiefly because guano and pigeon droppings are used as part of the curing process.
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 6pm

Fez City Gates
There are several gates allowing entry to the ancient town of Fez: Bab Bou Jeloud, the western gate has bright decorations and hotels and cafes grouped around it; Bab Er Rsif is the central gate, opening onto the square in front of the mosque of the same name; Bab el-Ftouh is the southeast gate giving onto the cemeteries; and Bab Guissa, the north gate, lies on the hillside close to the Merenid tombs vantage point. The principal entrance for tourists is the Bab Bou Jeloud, which was constructed in the modern era in 1913 but appears deceptively older with its tiled facade.
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Zaouia Moulay Idriss II
The shrine that houses the remains of the founder of the city of Fez, Moulay Idriss II, is one of the holiest buildings in the city, enclosed in the depths of the old city. Non-Muslims may not enter the imposing building, but it is possible to see inside and glimpse the saint's tomb, which is the subject of a constant devotional ritual by a group of women who burn candles and incense and make offerings.
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Kasbah des Oudaïas
An airy 'village within the city', the Kasbah is a pleasant place to take a stroll to admire some interesting architecture and see some sights. The Kasbah was the Alhomad citadel of medieval Rabat, and is guarded by an impressive arched gate built around 1195. Inside the Kasbah is the palace and Andalucian gardens, as well as a broad terrace, which gives beautiful views of the river and sea close to the city's oldest mosque, the Kasbah Mosque, founded in 1050. Below the terrace are several fortifications with gun emplacements guarding the estuary, and even further below is a beach, usually crowded with local people.
Telephone: (0)7 73 15 37
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Palace Museum and Gardens
The Palace in the Kasbah on the Rue Bazzo dates from the 17th century and was built by Moulay Ismail after he subdued the pirate republic of Rabat and took over the Kasbah as a garrison for the Oudaias, a Saharan tribe who formed the bulk of his mercenary army. Today the palace, a beautiful classic building, houses the Museum of Moroccan Arts featuring exhibits such as Berber jewellery, costumes and local carpets. The palace grounds contain the beautiful Andalucian Gardens with their sunken shrubberies and flowerbeds, bougainvillea and fragrant herbs.
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 12pm, and 3pm to 5.30pm; closed Tuesdays

The Citadel of Chellah
Emerging from the boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle (New Town) of Rabat one comes across the ruins of Chellah, once the thriving walled Roman port city of Sala Colonia, abandoned in 1154 in favour of Sale across the other side of the river mouth. In the time of the Almohads the site was used as a royal burial ground. The Merenid Sultan Abou El Hassan added some monuments and the striking main gate during his reign in the mid-14th century. Just inside the gate are the Roman ruins dating from 200 BC, which includes a forum, a temple and a craftsmen's quarter.
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Hassan Mosque
The massive minaret of the Hassan Mosque, dating from 1195, towers over Rabat, although the huge mosque itself was never entirely completed and was largely destroyed in an earthquake in 1755.

The minaret is unusually sited at the centre of the mosque building, and was intended to be 262ft (80m) high, though it stands today at 164ft (50m). Each façade of the minaret is intricately patterned with different motifs on each face. Opposite the Hassan Mosque is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, one of the great monuments of modern Morocco, inaugurated in 1967. The deceased king lies entombed in white onyx, surrounded by royal guards, and hundreds of Moroccans pay homage by filing through the mausoleum each day.
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. Medina
Rabat's Medina, or old city, was created by Andalucian Muslim refugees from Badajoz in Spain, and was essentially all there was to the city until the arrival of the French in 1912 and the subsequent building of the Ville Nouvelle or new quarter. The Medina is small and not as interesting or attractive as the old city sections of Fez or Marrakech, however the foundouks (traditional cafes) and shops make for a lively atmosphere. Souika Street is the main artery through the Medina, where you will find the leather sellers at the Sebbat souk (footwear bazaar). In Consules Street shops sell curiosities, souvenirs and Moroccan craft items such as copper and embroidery and the famed Rabat carpets.
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Archaeological Museum
An exceptional collection of Roman bronzes dating from the first and second centuries and recovered from the site at Volubilis, takes pride of place at Rabat's Archaeological Museum. Other artefacts unearthed at sites of Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman settlements around Morocco are displayed on the two floors of the museum.
Telephone: (0)7 70 19 19
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 11.30am, and 2.30pm to 5.30pm; closed Tuesdays

Grand Socco
The word 'socco' is the Spanish version of 'souk', or market, which has stuck to this square in the heart of Tangier because of its Spanish heritage. The square is, however, no longer a marketplace, but rather a city crossroads and huge taxi rank, fronted by cafes, outside the walled in, old part of the city. The Grand Socco has developed something of a reputation for being a meeting place for criminals and drug dealers, but it is still an interesting spot to spend time watching the passing parade and the Rif women in colourful traditional costume touting vegetables and fresh mint. It is also the jumping off point for entry to the medina, and for admiring the luxurious Mendoubia Gardens on the north side, and the mosaic-studded minaret of the Sidi Bou Abid Mosque to the west.
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Tangier American Legation Museum
In the midst of the old medina in Tangier, America has provided a thriving cultural centre, museum, conference venue and library in the only historic landmark of the United States that is located abroad. The American Legation Museum is housed in the American Embassy, established in Tangier back in 1777 when Morocco became the first power that recognised the United States of America as an independent country. The museum houses art collections and restored rooms. Guided tours are offered.
Telephone: (039) 93 53 17
Website: www.legation.org
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Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm

Kasbah
Tangier's 17th century fortified residential quarter, or Kasbah, is a place of arcades, winding alleys and hidden terraces, where it is possible to wander among the wealthy homes and sometimes manage a peep behind the unprepossessing facades, enjoying views of the medina and the bay. The Kasbah mosque features an interesting octagonal minaret, and stands in the mechovar (parade ground). Visitors are welcomed at the Sultan's Gardens in the Rue Riad Sultan to the north of the mechovar, where they can watch local craftsmen at work and sit awhile on the terrace of the Moorish café Le Detroit. On a clear day it is possible to see the Spanish city of Tarifa about 18 miles (30km) away.
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Dar el Makhzen
A collection of art from all over Morocco is housed in the imposing Dar el Makhzen, the former Sultan's palace dating from the 17th century, which dominates the Tangier kasbah. The art collections are sited in the prince's apartments, which are breathtaking with their frescoed ceilings, sculptured plasterwork and intricate mosaics. The art on display has been assembled from all regions of Morocco, and includes firearms decorated with marquetry; pottery; carpets from Rabat; silks; and bound manuscripts from Fez. The Dar el Makhzen palace is home, too, to a fascinating museum of antiquities relating to Morocco's pre-history, gathered from sites such as Lixus, Cotta and Volubilis. The museum includes a life-sized model of a Carthaginian tomb, and a reproduction of an ancient necropolis, which is sited in a peaceful Andalusian garden.
Telephone: (0)9 93 20 97
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Forbes Museum
Tangier boasts many beautiful palatial residences of varying styles and variety in its Marshan villa district, about 15 minutes walk from the medina. One of the most attractive of these is on the Rue Muhammed Tazi, and used to belong to United States multi-millionaire media magnate, Malcolm Forbes. The house is open to the public and contains Forbes' collection of miniature soldiers, about 8,000 of them!
Telephone: (0)9 93 36 06
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Opening times: Daily from 10am to 5pm

Ben Youssef Madrassa
The Ben Youssef Madrassa was an Islamic college in Marrakech named after Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106 to 1142), who expanded the city considerably. This madrassa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students. After being closed down in 1960, this Historical Site was refurbished and reopened in 1982, an interesting attraction for the value of its past and educational influence.
Telephone: +212 (0)44 390911
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The Museum of Marrakech
The Museum of Marrakech is located in the Dar Menebhi Palace, built at the end of the 19th century by legendary Mehdi Menebhi, in the old centre of Marrakech. The palace was restored by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation and converted into a museum in 1997. The house itself is representative of classical Andalusian architecture, with fountains in the central courtyard, carvings and beautiful tiles. The museum holds exhibits of both modern and traditional Moroccan art, as well as historical books, coins and pottery.
Telephone: +212 (0)24 441893
Website: www.museedemarrakech.ma
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Opening times: 9am to 6.30pm daily.

Bab Agnaou
Bab Agnaou is one of the 19 gates of Marrakech and was built in the 12th century, in the time of the Almohad dynasty. The function of the gate may have been nationally symbolic; the corner-pieces are decorated with floral decorations, framed by three panels with inscriptions from the Quran. Bab Agnaou forms the entrance to the royal kasbah in southern Marrakech. The kasbah, built by the Almohad sultan Yaqub al-Mansour, is home to the El Mansouria mosque, the El Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs.
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Majorelle Garden
The Majorelle Garden is a botanical garden designed by the French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924, during the colonial period when Morocco was a protectorate of France. Previous owners have included Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint-Laurent (whose ashes were scattered there when he died in 2008). The garden is also home to the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, whose collection includes North African textiles from Saint-Laurent's personal collection and paintings by Majorelle. The garden has more than 15 bird species endemic to North Africa.
Telephone: +212 (0)44 301852
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Shrob ou shouf
The Shrob ou shouf (Chrob ou chouf) fountain is not far from the Ben Youssef Medrassa, built during Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur's reign (1578-1603). Its wooden crown is carved to look like honeycomb and a green tiled roof shelters the structure. One of the fountain's inscriptions invites passers-by to drink and look (shrob ou shouf). In 1985, UNESCO recognised this Saadian fountain as a cultural heritage site.
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Souks
Marrakech is home to a labyrinth of bustling souks (workshops and markets) offering the city's most fascinating wares. Whether shopping or exploring, they are a must for any visitor. At the northern end of the souks, best accessed from the Ben Youssef Mosque, has blacksmiths making wrought-iron goods and the distinct odour of leather workshops. The stalls emerge further south and are met by the Rahba Kedima, a market famous for its bizarre offerings of animals and eccentric potions for spells.
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El Badi Palace
El Badi Palace (the incomparable palace) consists of the remnants of a glorious palace built by the Saadian king Ahmad al-Mansur in 1578. The original building is thought to have had 360 rooms, a courtyard and a pool, decorated with Italian marbles and large amounts of Sudanese gold. It also has a small, underground jail where the king kept his prisoners. Unfortunately, the original palace was torn apart by the Alaouite Sultan Mawlay Ismail. The design of the palace is influenced by Granada's Alhambra.
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Opening times: 08.30am to 11.45am, 14.45pm to 17.45pm.

The King Hassan II Mosque
The third largest of its kind in the world, the King Hassan II Mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau. Perched on the edge of the city of Casablanca, this picturesque structure looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and features the world's tallest minaret, towering at 689 feet (210m). Almost half of this mosque lies on the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor. This feature was inspired by a verse in the Qur'an - 'the throne of God was built on water'. The mosque can accommodate over 100,000 worshippers.
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Opening times: Tours from Saturday to Thursday from 9am, 10am, 11am and 2pm

Old Medina
Not quite as majestic as the medina's of Fez or Marrakech, this ancient walled part of Casablanca is worth a visit. This part of town predates the French protectorate and has undergone restoration where the skala (bastion) and colonial clock tower have been restored to their former glory.
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The Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman
Located past the ocean-side neighbourhood of the Corniche, the Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman is built on a rock and is only accessible at low tide. Non-Muslims are not allowed to visit the shrine, but travellers wishing to explore the tiny neighbourhood around it are permitted to do so. Most visitors opt to catch a glimpse of the shrine and its breathtaking white walls while walking along the beach.
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Casablanca Twin Centre
Designed by Spanish architect, the Casablanca Twin Centre features two skyscrapers which are 28-storeys tall and tower above the city at 377 feet (115m). Known as La Grande Casa, the buildings house offices, businesses, a five-storey shopping mall and terraces, bars and restaurants occupy the top floor. This building is a popular attraction because it represents the modernisation of Casablanca.
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Cities & Regions: Marrakech | Fez | Rabat | Tangier | Casablanca