Private Guided Half Day Marrakech City Tour

Medersa Ben Youssef

The Ben Youssef Medersa, an architectural treasure nestled in the heart of the ancient Medina of Marrakech, resonates with the echo of a glorious past and embodies an invaluable historical significance. It transports visitors to a fascinating era where art, knowledge, and culture flourished. The medersa was erected by Sultan Abdullah Al-Ghaleb Assaadi between the years 1564 and 1565 and remained for four centuries a bastion for scholars, a goal and a destination for students eager for knowledge in various disciplines, especially religious ones. The Ben Youssef Medersa has been an intellectual hub in Morocco for centuries. Students from distant horizons converged on this prestigious institution to deepen their knowledge in religious sciences, philosophy, medicine, and mathematics. Upon crossing the threshold, the architectural splendor of the Medersa enchants. Refined Zellige tiles with sumptuous geometric and floral motifs adorn the walls.

Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace, meaning brilliance in Arabic, is perhaps one of the best-preserved historical sites and certainly most interesting in Marrakech. Built between 1866 and 1867 by Si Moussa, the Bahia palace is set over two acres in the middle of the Marrakech medina and features 150 rooms, including a harem section located just off the sun-filled Court of Honour. Having housed the Resident General during the French Protectorate era, today the Bahia Palace is a must-see historical museum open to the public daily and has previously hosted events such as the Marrakech Biennale. Originally built for the personal use of Si Moussa, Grand Vizir of the Sultan, a former slave who climbed the ranks, the Bahia palace was soon after occupied by his son Bou Ahmed. He slyly rose to power in 1894 when he managed to gain complete control over the state until his death in 1900.

Built at the end of the 16th century by the Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur to celebrate his victory over Portugal in a famous battle, the El Badi Palace in Marrakesh was reputed to be one of the most majestic buildings ever built on the planet. It’s said to have taken 25 years of work and a large group of workmen to build this 360-room monument that was admired the world over for its lavish decoration of gold, turquoise, and crystal, as well as its impressive gardens. It’s the great symbol of the architecture of the Saadians dynasty of Morocco. The history of the El Badi Palace The El Badi Palace in Marrakesh is the result of a sultan’s whim, one of the most prestigious in the history of Morocco, who enjoyed unparalleled luxury, a monument that was eventually plundered (for 12 years no less) and virtually destroyed by the sultan who succeeded him on the throne, Moulay Ismail. All its jewels and riches ended up in the new capital of the Moroccan Empire Maknes .