Morocco – Medina of Marrakesh
Wondering how long to stay and how to spend your time in Marrakech? Here Compass and Fork detail what to do day by day including activities, review Dar Les Cigognes, the riad where they stayed, and suggest where to eat if you have up to four days in Marrakech.
Morocco – Medina of Marrakesh
Few cities capture the imagination quite like Marrakech. A blend of Berber, Arabic and French influences give the UNESCO World Heritage site a timeless appeal. With the beautiful frenzy of the Medina, ornate Arabic architecture and one of the world’s greatest cuisines it’s no surprise that more people are traveling to Marrakech now more than ever. Whether you spell it Marrakech or Marrakesh (both are acceptable), a visit to Morocco’s Red City is surely an experience you will never forget. Marrakech can be overwhelming to say the least, with a dizzying array of sights, smells and tastes providing a sensory overload; but armed with these tips you can make your first trip to Marrakech one to remember.
Morocco – Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin)
Best for culture, urban hot spots and nature.
Culture
Global Encounters on a Local Level
1. Harar, Ethiopia
Why Go Now: Find the most surprising city in East Africa
The busloads of tourists at rock-hewn churches and castles in northern Ethiopia haven’t yet discovered the laid-back east, anchored by the enchantingly contradictory city of Harar. With 82 mosques, three of which date back to the 10th century, Harar welcomes the devout. Yet this is no place for the ascetic. In Harar, a one-hour flight from Addis Ababa, cafés dole out spicy fava bean stew and craftswomen sell brilliantly dyed baskets. French poet Arthur Rimbaud once lived on one of these narrow streets, abandoning writing for the coffee and arms trades. Harar touts Ethiopia’s best beer, strongest khat, friendliest hyenas, and not least, highest quality coffee in a country renowned for its beans.
Morocco – Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)
Here are 13 of the most Instagrammable spots in Morocco, from the doorways of Fez to the medinas and mosques of Marrakech.
Does any country evoke a sense of mystery as resolutely as Morocco? From the maze of souks in Marrakech to the windswept dunes of the Sahara and everything in between, this diverse North African kingdom rocks the casbah and will spice up your Instagram feed at the same time.
For those who think some of the sights risk being cliché, well, perhaps you haven’t found the right filter. The most magical thing about this country — other than the fantastic, fragrant food — is its authenticity. You find it everywhere: from master craftsmanship in the souks to exquisite hidden riads to the smile of the guy who’s serving you a sweet mint tea. So, linadhhab; here are 13 ideas for Instagram gold.
Morocco – Medina of Marrakesh
Morocco – Archaeological Site of Volubilis
Rabat – If you are looking for off the beaten track travel destinations, offering you an escape from the crowds and with historic and architectural appeal similar to the world’s most famous monuments, then hurry up to discover the ruins of Volubilis before it gets on everyone’s bucket list.
Bloomberg curated a list of seven “newly accessible” wonders of the world that include Volubilis, the magnificent Roman city located outside of Fez.
The list also includes the remains of the Royal Empire in India, the onetime Mayan capital in Guatemala, sprawling Roman mansions in Portugal, “pyramids on steroids” in Sudan, a lost city of Colombia, and a lion-shaped fortress in Sri Lanka. These underexplored destinations have as much to offer as the most famous touristic sites around the world.
Morocco – Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin)
Rabat – Tetouan has become the first Moroccan city to join the Creative Cities Network of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The northern city, whose medina was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, was chosen for its crafts and folk art.
UNESCO announced on October 31 that Tetouan, along with 63 others from 44 countries, would join the network, which aims to “foster innovation and creativity as key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development.”
“These new designations showcase an enhanced diversity in city profiles and geographical balance, with 19 cities from countries not previously represented in the Network,” said Director-General Irina Bokova.
“The cooperation framework proposed to foster candidate cities from the Africa region – a UNESCO Global Priority – has been a true success with nine African cities now joining the Network.”
Morocco – Archaeological Site of Volubilis
Experience Morocco’s quiet oasis, the city of Fez along with Volubilis, a 2300 year-old Roman city. This peaceful Muslim country is inspiring and beautiful.
Having sat in the lap of luxury for most of our time spent in Marrakesh, we decided to get out on our own and rent a car. Our destination: the quiet oasis of Fez, a six and half hour drive from Marrakech, and well worth a few days.
Fez is actually three cities meshed into one: Fes El Bali, the old 8th-century medina, al-Aliya, the “new” medina dating from the 9th century and the modern city that has grown around them.
Morocco – Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)
Last week Liz Hoggard slept in a botanical garden. Each morning at Essaouira’s Le Jardin des Douars, a hotel set in 7.5 acres of tropical planting, she awoke to the heady scent of thyme, Moroccan rose and lantana, then snuck out of the villa to swim in the heated jade pool, as frogs scuttled past giant cacti and succulents, and red dragonflies turned arabesques in the breeze.
Morocco – Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage
The city of Rabat, capital of Morocco, is a Unesco World Heritage site, and the Jardins d’Essai Botaniques, literally meaning Gardens of Botanical Trials, was classified a national heritage site in 1992.
These gardens were created between 1914 and 1919, under a joint initiative of the sultan Moulay Hafid and the French Protectorate. They were designed by one of my favorite garden architects, Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, best known for the Rose Garden and the Iris Garden of Bagatelle outside Paris, but who created gardens in Spain and Morocco in addition to his city planning work as a French public servant, laying out the plans for the modern cities of Morocco.
The gardens were reopened by the current King in 2013, following extensive renovations after years of neglect.
Morocco – Medina of Marrakesh
Looking for an exotic getaway that ticks all the boxes? And by boxes it means great food, great fun and (of course), great Instagram fodder…
Source: Film geeks will adore Morocco
Morocco – Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage
The city of Rabat, capital of Morocco, is a Unesco World Heritage site, and the Jardins d’Essai Botaniques, literally meaning Gardens of Botanical Trials, was classified a national heritage site in 1992.
These gardens were created between 1914 and 1919, under a joint initiative of the sultan Moulay Hafid and the French Protectorate. They were designed by one of my favorite garden architects, Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, best known for the Rose Garden and the Iris Garden of Bagatelle outside Paris, but who created gardens in Spain and Morocco in addition to his city planning work as a French public servant, laying out the plans for the modern cities of Morocco.
The gardens were reopened by the current King in 2013, following extensive renovations after years of neglect.
Marrakech, is Morocco’s most awarded destination in the travel and tourism industry.
Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2013 shows the gate of the old city of Essaouira, Morocco. Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world. Essaouira was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage: Essaouira
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Aizudin Zainal
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