Marrakesh
Marrakesh, also known by the
French spelling Marrakech (
or
;
[4] Arabic:
مراكش,
Murrākuš;
Berber:
Meṛṛakec, ⴰⵎⵓⵔⴰⴽⵓⵛ), is a major city of the
Kingdom of Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country, after
Casablanca,
Fes and
Tangier. It is the capital city of the mid-southwestern region of
Marrakesh-Safi. Located to the north of the foothills of the snow-capped
Atlas Mountains,
Marrakesh is located 580 km (360 mi) southwest of Tangier, 327 km
(203 mi) southwest of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, 239 km (149 mi)
south of Casablanca, and 246 km (153 mi) northeast of
Agadir.
Marrakesh is possibly the most important of Morocco's four
former imperial cities (cities that were built by Moroccan Berber empires). The region has been inhabited by
Berber farmers since
Neolithic times, but the actual city was founded in 1062 by
Abu Bakr ibn Umar, chieftain and cousin of
Almoravid king
Yusuf ibn Tashfin. In the 12th century, the Almoravids built many
madrasas (Koranic schools) and mosques in Marrakesh that bear
Andalusian influences. The red walls of the city, built by
Ali ibn Yusuf
in 1122–1123, and various buildings constructed in red sandstone during
this period, have given the city the nickname of the "Red City" or
"Ochre City". Marrakesh grew rapidly and established itself as a
cultural, religious, and trading centre for the
Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa;
Jemaa el-Fnaa is the busiest square in Africa.
After a period of decline, the city was surpassed by
Fes,
but in the early 16th century, Marrakesh again became the capital of
the kingdom. The city regained its preeminence under wealthy
Saadian sultans
Abu Abdallah al-Qaim and
Ahmad al-Mansur, who embellished the city with sumptuous palaces such as the
El Badi Palace (1578) and restored many ruined monuments. Beginning in the 17th century, the city became popular among
Sufi
pilgrims for Morocco's seven patron saints, who are entombed here. In
1912 the French Protectorate in Morocco was established and
T'hami El Glaoui
became Pasha of Marrakesh and held this position nearly throughout the
duration of the protectorate until the role was dissolved upon
independence of Morocco and the reestablishment of the monarchy in 1956.
In 2009, Marrakesh mayor
Fatima Zahra Mansouri became the second woman to be elected mayor in Morocco.
Like many Moroccan cities, Marrakesh comprises an old fortified city packed with vendors and their stalls (the
medina), bordered by modern neighborhoods, the most prominent of which is
Gueliz.
Today it is one of the busiest cities in Africa and serves as a major
economic centre and tourist destination. Tourism is strongly advocated
by the reigning Moroccan monarch,
Mohammed VI,
with the goal of doubling the number of tourists visiting Morocco to 20
million by 2020. Despite the economic recession, real estate and hotel
development in Marrakesh has grown dramatically in the 21st century.
Marrakesh is particularly popular with the French, and numerous French
celebrities own property in the city. Marrakesh has the largest
traditional market (
souk) in Morocco, with some 18
souks selling wares ranging from traditional
Berber carpets
to modern consumer electronics. Crafts employ a significant percentage
of the population, who primarily sell their products to tourists.
Marrakesh is one of North Africa’s largest centres of wildlife trade,
despite the illegality of much of this trade. Much of this trade can be
found in the medina and adjacent squares. Tortoises are particularly
popular for sale as pets but Barbary macaques and snakes can also be
seen.
[5][6][7]