Explore Morocco’s Mediterranean Coastline

Explore Morocco’s Mediterranean Coastline



The Mediterranean coastline of Morocco includes the important seaports of Tangier and Tétouan, as well as a host of spectacular beaches and seaside towns popular with locals and visitors to this beautiful North African country. Visitors traveling from Europe by ferry will land in Tangier which is located a mere 20 miles from Spain across the strait of Gibraltar. Offering a curious blend of Spanish, French and North African culture, Tangier has long held a special allure and been the inspiration for talented and famous people, including French artist Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, American artist and decorative arts designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, and citizen of Tangier Antonio Fuentes, as well as writers Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, Tennessee Williams and Moroccan literary figures Mohamed Choukri, Abdeslam Boulaich, Driss Ben Hamed Charhadi, Mohamed Mrabet, and Ahmed Yacoubi.

A short distance inland from Tangier is the charming mountain town of Chefchaouen, known particularly for its winding alleyways, lined with white-washed buildings featuring blue doors and trim, set against the backdrop of the majestic Rif Mountains. Visitors to this Moroccan town can enjoy a hike into the scenic Rif Mountains, or up the Jebel al-Kalaa peak overlooking the town. The Talasemtane national park is also close by. The medina has plenty of arts and crafts on offer, with items made from leather being the specialty of artisans in the town, many of whom will make special request items.

The city of Tétouan is the other major port of Morocco located on the Mediterranean and is an interesting place to explore. The medina is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and artisans can be viewed working at their chosen trade, including carpet weaving, jewelry making and manufacturing leather items. The royal palace of Tétouan is situated at one of the entrances to the medina. Outside the city is the spectacular new leisure development called Tamuda Bay – a low-lying wetland sanctuary which offers a range of accommodation options and a host of watersport activities.

The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are also located along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Although on the Moroccan mainland, the two enclaves are part of Spain and subject to the rules and regulations of that country. Border crossings are strictly regulated.


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The Medina – a Testament to Marrakech’s Cultural Heritage

Marrakech’s ancient Medina is an amazing adventure offering a glimpse into Arab and Muslim culture.  A myriad of a lively, bustling jumble is juxtaposed by a haven of tranquility – on the one hand, the exhilarating and lively Jemaa el Fna square and on the other, to the south – a different  face to the Medina.  Here, you’ll savor the peace and serenity of another Medina, where the splendid monuments of Morocco’s ruling dynasties lay – mosques, tombs, traditional architecture and buildings of historic interest.

Djemaa el Fna

Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubiya Mosque Minaret

The Almoravids built these impressive monuments here to represent their power and influence over the Muslim world.   One of the best examples of Muslim architecture is the Kooutoubiya Mosque, with its 77 m. tall minaret used by the muezzin to call to prayer.  The magnificent Ben Youssef Madrasa is the largest of its kind in Morocco.

Ben Youssef Madrasa

 

The Saadian Tombs, the mausoleum of 66 kings from the Saadian dynasty, built in the 16^th century by the Moroccan ruler Ahmed el Mansour, exhibit sumptuously decorated pavilions.  These include the magnificent room of the 12 columns which house the tombs of Ahmed el Mansour and his descendants.  The El Badi Palace, the splendid residence of Ahmed el Mansour, was stripped of its wealth by the spiteful Moulay Ismail in the 17^th century.  Yet it is a testament to Marrakech’s cultural heritage – its sheer size, position and the aura of surrounding tranquility create a mesmerizing effect.

Sadian Tombs

Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace, built in the late 19^th century by a slave who became wealthy, offers a wonderful example of 19^th century Alhambrian architecture, as is the Dar el Said Palace, which houses a museum.  Located near the ben Youssef Mosque, the Chrob ou Chouf Fountain, one of Marrakech’s lesser known landmarks, is a not-to-be-missed work of art.  Commissioned by Morocco’s Ahmed el Mansour ruler in the late 16^th century, it was strategically built near the Sahara Valley as a source of fresh water for weary travelers and locals.  The fountain’s breathtaking dimensions make it the most vital in the Medina, recognized as a UNESCO historic landmark.

Ceiling in Bahia Palace

Many of Marrakech’s historic highlights are hidden deep in the Medina, among twisting alleys and the maze of narrow streets.  Discovering these, the Medina with its historic landmarks, structures and buildings reveals the city’s fascinating history and offers a breathtakig glimpse into this city’s mesmerizing cultural heritage.

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The Wonders of a Moroccan Kasbah

Discover the Wonders of a Moroccan Kasbah

Strategically located at the junction of 3 rivers, Ouarzazate was once the base of power over vital southern trade routes and remains to this day the main gateway to these routes.  At the heart of the region rest the bizarre remains of ancient and restored Kasbahs, highlighting a family adventure well worth the effort. 

A Kasbah in the Dades Valley

 Kasbahs, fortified mountain villages usually perched on a mountain hillside for defense purposes, were built out of mud and straw.  Constructed to protect from arrow and other attacks, they were built with high walls and no windows or very narrow ones.  Erected in a sprawling manner, Kasbahs included attached earthen dwellings as well as other buildings necessary for everyday life – bath houses, garrisons, stables, granaries and more.

A Kasbah was also a place of residence of a wealthy and powerful local leader.  As such, it was the place of defense and the refuge for inhabitants when a city was under siege.  Built to a height of three stories with towers on every corner, Kasbahs were constructed higgledy-piggledy, twisting and turning without an organized plan.  This is precisely what makes them such a great family adventure travel destination, especially for children.  Exploring a kasbah, one never knows what to expect around the next corner.

Kasbah Touririt

Located in the heart of Ouarzazate, Kasbah Taourirt, the one-time home of Pasha Glaouil, one of the world’s richest men, is one of the first of the Kasbahs to explore.  Its architecture is typical of this kind of edifice; its exterior and interior are magnificent, offering a clear picture of how these fortifications were built.  The Kasbah was made to house over 1000 people – slaves and family members in over 300 rooms including stables, garrisons, ceremonial rooms and domestic living quarters.  Traditional dyes – saffron for yellow, henna for red, mint for green, indigo for blue – were used to color the tiles decorating the walls and ceilings and other architectural features abound.  The fun in exploring here comes when wandering through the myriad of rooms and passageways – a maze of twisting and turning, up and down chambers, which are fascinating from the architectural and decorative point.

Ait Benhaddou

Towers at Ait Benhaddou

The breathtaking vistas in the region have also become a choice film location, the most well-known of these being Ait Benhaddou, a Kasbah north of Ouarzazate.  This UNESCO World Heritage Kasbah is so stunning that many popular films have been made here –among them “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “the Gladiator”.  Ait Benhaddou is well worth a visit.  A Kasbah made up of various fortresses towering 10m into the air, it is one of those places you dream of visiting – exotic and different, and you can easily fantasize life here centuries ago.  And the view is spectacular, especially at sunrise and dawn, when the Saharan sun reflects the red walls.  Wandering through the Kasbah, you’ll need to climb and jump and look out for mud pieces falling on you as you go.  For youngsters, this is a dream come true!

Ait Benhaddou from Above

These are only 2 of the countless Kasbahs in the region.  Traveling north from Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, known as “The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs,” features many beautiful painted, crenulated Kasbahs which are the stuff of fantasies made for great exploration for family adventure travel.

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Unwind in morocco: An Intimate Look at a Moroccan Bath House

Unwind : An Intimate Look at a Moroccan Bath House

A Moroccan bath house, a Hammam, is an important part of the local culture.  Originally descended from the Roman bath and fashioned after Turkish baths, Moroccan Hammams were created because most homes lacked indoor plumbing.  Moroccan Hammams were also rooted in Islamic rituals.  Today, however, Hammams have become a place where locals go at least once a week to soak, exfoliate and catch up on the latest gossip with friends.

Walking into the Hammam, I hardly knew what to expect.  Opening the giant wooden door, the sights and fragrances that greeted me were incredible.   Fragrant candles, rose petals scattered throughout, warm burnished wood, fountains, stunning stained glass lanterns, sheer gold curtains – these were only part of the elaborate decorations that held me captive from the start.

 

With a robe in hand, I was directed to a changing room and then led to the sauna, passing more fresh flower bouquets and bubbling fountains on the way.  Opening the door to the sauna, I was enveloped by the fragrant steam, as the scent of orange blossoms and rose water filled the air.  After a long day of trekking in the hot Moroccan sun, my skin soaked up the lovely moisture, my muscles took a break from strenuous touring as a total sense of relaxation came over me.

 

My masseuse entered the sauna, handing me a scoop of henna-clay mixture, and signaled to me to cover myself in the goop and scrub.  Covered in the mud, I felt the billowing steam work its magic and awaited her return.  Eventually, she came in with an exfoliating glove, all ready to scrub me off, shedding dead skin and impurities.  More rinsing and lathering followed until my skin was rosy-red and baby-smooth.

Soothing music and the smell of almonds filled the air.  Then, for complete relaxation, a full body massage!  Regretfully thinking that I was finished, I rose to depart, only to be greeted by the dramatic finale as a bucket of cold water was poured over my head! 

“Ah” I thought, “More energy to continue my adventures in this great land.” 

No doubt, a Moroccan Hammam is the perfect place to unwind, relax, re-energize and come out squeaky clean!

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Short City Breaks: Marrakech

Enveloped in an aura of mysteriousness and drama, exotic Marrakech provides travelers with a true taste of Moroccan life.  Set to the backdrop of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains rising majestically out of the Sahara, it is the gateway to Morocco’s red desert and the base for the High Atlas region.  Here, African, Berber and Arab Morocco come together in the clanging and banging of everyday life.

Marrakech Souk

 

Founded in 1062 and one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, Marrakech is rife with magnificent landscapes, historical landmarks and beautiful ancient buildings – evidence to the city’s fascinating history.

Djemaa el Fna at NIght

Start out in the maze of narrow streets and alleys leading to the city’s souks, located near Djemaa el Fna, the city’s central square.  Here, local vendors tout every imaginable ware – from spices and local produce to pottery, metalworks, jewelry and rugs.  Friendly merchants will gladly offer you a glass of mint tea, a traditional custom while you’re expected to haggle for their goods.  When the cacophony becomes too much, take refuge in a rooftop café, from where you can observe the unfolding drama below.

Typical Building Style

The heart of traditional Marrakech, the Dejmaa el Fna, comes to life at sunset when story tellers, musicians, snake charmers, witch doctors, fire-eaters and acrobats ply their trades as locals clamor around.

In sharp contrast to the Dejmaa el Fan, to the south lies a tranquil district of the Medina, with its many splendid monuments depicting the city’s fascinating history.

Marrakech is also famous for its lush and beautiful gardens.  The Agdal and Menara gardens are set amidst a fantasy landscape of orchids and olive groves.  The Jardins Majorelle, originally created by a French painter and now owned by Yves Saint Laurent, are smaller in size but spectacular with their lily and cactus ponds and the stunning pavilion housing the Islamic Art Museum.

Majorelle Gardens

Picture of Menara gardens
thanks to Acp from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

Marrakech is also a great base for adventure travel throughout southern Morocco.  On the west, mystical Essaouira sits on the Atlantic coast and offers a lovely seaside resort.  To the east, Ourzazate with its dramatic desert scenery opens the gateway to the Sahara.

While maintaining a strong bond to its history, Marrakech, with its spectacular location and bustling ambiance is rooted in the present.  It is a city imbued with the sights, sounds and flavors of Morocco; it is quite simply, a feast for the senses.

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Ben Youssef Madrasa

Ben Youssef Madrasa

An exquisitely carved archway in the Ben Youssef Madrasa

This is a gathering of Lovers.
In this gathering
there is no high, no low,
no smart, no ignorant,
no special assembly,
no grand discourse,
no proper schooling required.
There is no master,
no disciple.

Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi

The Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech is one of the most beautiful places in this vibrant North African city. Within its walls you find tranquility and beauty unsurpassed by any other monuments here. 

The central courtyard of the Madrasa

The Ben Youssef Madrasa is named after the amoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably, but was founded much later during, in the 14th century by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hassan.

View from one of the dormitories

The building was re-constructed in the 16th century by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib(1557–1574).

Closed down in 1960, the The Ben Youssef Madrasa building complex was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982.

The beautiful court seen from the main entrance

The Ben Youssef Madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students.

One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745).

The beautiful main courtyard is partly built in cedar mable and stucco and it is extremely ornate.

The carvings  covering the walls have no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. In the middle you have a beautiful pool in cool blue and green mosaic tiles.

The 130 student dormitory cells at the Ben Youssef Madrasa face this court. It feels so strange being inside these tiny rooms where generations of pious young men have studied their holy book.

It is a surprise really to find a space like Ben Youssef Madrasa in a city as Marrakech. The refined beauty of its interior is a contrast to the rough and charming exterior of the streets outside. The space here is actually like many others found in Marrakech. You are suddenly removed to a beautiful quiet room far away from the commotion of the streets outside.  

You are suddenly back to its grand era, when, as you are wander in the courtyard hear the call of the muezzin at the nearby Ben Youssef Mosque. I caught this on this short film clip taken during my visit.  

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Ben Youssef Madrasa

Ben Youssef Madrasa


Wall in the patio
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was an Islamic college in Marrakech, Morocco, named after the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably. It is the largest Medrasa in all of Morocco.
The college was founded during the period of the Marinid (14th century) by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hassan and allied to the neighbouring Ben Youssef Mosque. The building of the madrasa was re-constructed by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574). In 1565 the works ordered by Abdallah al-Ghalib were finished, as confirmed by the inscription in the prayer room. Its 130 student dormitory cells cluster around a courtyard richly carved in cedar, marble and stucco. The carvings contain no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. This madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students. One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745).
Closed down in 1960, the building was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982.



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