There is always something to add to your experiences in Marrakech. Every time you look at your pictures from Morocco, a new story pops up in your head. Sometimes all you need is your travel album or computer to tell an unforgettable story of Marrakech in photos.
Last updated: December 6, 2024
Marrakech
Marrakech has been long open for travelers from all over the world. With just a 2-3-hour direct flight, Europeans visit the city regularly. Their longer trips usually involve immersing themselves deeper into Moroccan culture. (Marrakech in the following photos is a great example of it.) Short weekend adventures mostly focus on shopping.
Travelers from other regions of the world normally devote at least a few days to the city. Although Marrakech is nowhere as big as London, Paris, or New York, its lifestyle and cultural heritage is in no way inferior to those in other popular destinations.
Marrakech is one of those rare places that you need to see in person, to feel it so to say. As a matter of fact, in Marrakech, you need to be an observer and let the city surprise, overwhelm, and even shock you. While these 7 photos open just a tiny window into the big world of Marrakech, I hope they inspire you to visit the city sometime in the future.
A STORY OF MARRAKECH IN PHOTOS
Marrakech
Officially known as Marrakech, the city is often called the Pearl of the South, symbolizing its importance as a cultural, religious, and trading center of Morocco. Other nicknames, the Rose City or Red City, emphasize the dominant color of Marrakech.
As you can see in these Marrakech photos, all buildings in the city are colored salmon pink to match red-clay earth. Moreover, as one of the locals informed us, painting the houses in any other colors is prohibited by law.
Medina
Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morocco. It was founded in 1062. A few times in its long history, the city was the capital of the kingdom. Today Marrakech is one of the busiest cities in Africa. It consists of the historic Medina or the Old City and the Guéliz or the New Town.
Two districts of Marrakech significantly differ from each other. While the Guéliz resembles European cities in everything from architecture to transportation, the Medina stays true to its ancient roots. Here, the streets are mostly very narrow, allowing for only people, carriages, and motorcycles to enter them. The buildings are rarely high. A 19-kilometer ancient brick wall still separates Medina from the rest of the city.
While more men prefer European clothes, women still stick to djellaba and hijab. It’s especially obvious in the Medina of Marrakech.
Landmarks of Marrakech in Photos
Koutoubia Mosque
Koutoubia Mosque is the tallest building in Marrakech. It reaches 70 meters (23 feet) in height and is considered one of the most important landmarks of the city. Photos don’t do it justice. The stunning structure has been intriguing many visitors of the city who can admire it from outside. Only Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque.
Majorelle Garden
Marrakech might be known for its signature salmon pink shades, but its Majorelle Garden impresses with a vibrant pop of color that ranges from cobalt blue, bright shades of yellow, orange, and red.
The garden was the biggest project of French painter Jacques Majorelle who came to Marrakech to improve his health and fell in love with the city’s vibrancy and authenticity. The artist had been pouring his creativity into the garden for forty years. Later, however, his unstable financial situation forced him to sell the property.
It was the saddest period in the life of the garden. At some point it almost fell victim to a real estate project and became a hotel complex. To save the property, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge bought the Majorelle Garden and restored its former glory. After Yves Saint Laurent’s death in 2008, Pierre Berge donated the Majorelle Garden to the Foundation Pierre Berge – Yves Saint Laurent.
READ MORE: 6 Places You Ought to Visit in Marrakech, Morocco
Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is one of the favorite destinations in Marrakech for photo enthusiasts. The place was built in the late 19th century. Today, it’s one of the greatest examples of traditional Moroccan architectural style.
The Bahia Palace includes 150 rooms, lavishly decorated with carved stucco and cedar wood. Yet only a small area of the palace is open to the public.
READ MORE: Exotic Marrakech Photo Diary
