The Different Districts Of Marrakech

Jemaa El Fna Square Marrakech 

Jemaa El Fna is a unique place in Morocco. Probably around the world. In 2001, Jemaa El Fna Square was recognized by UNESCO as the oral and intangible heritage of Humanity, thanks to the initiative of Juan Goytisolo, Spanish writer living in Marrakech and Moroccan intellectuals, but also with the support of the association "The friends of Jemaa El Fna".
It is located in the heart of the medina of Marrakech, at the foot of the minaret of Koutoubia and souks. It is the main meeting point between the old medina and the modern city.

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Jemaa El Fna Square is surrounded by shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels and administrative buildings. With its uninterrupted shows, it is animated at any time of the day. But it is at dusk when it reveals all its splendor.

Storytellers, jugglers, herbalists, public writers, snake charmers, water carriers, musicians, barkers and fortunetellers, they are all in one place.

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Every day, Gnawa dance and jump to the rhythm of the drums and Krakebs, Berber orchestras sing their chants, storytellers take you into the imaginary world of a thousand and one nights ...

Certainly, it is difficult to apprehend all this clutter of images, flavors, sounds without going on site.

The nightlife of this mythical place continues until late at night. In summer, it is practically until daybreak. If you are hungry, small restaurants are at your disposal. You can taste the delights of the gastronomy of Marrakech.

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As for history, know that the origins of Jemaa El Fna are obscure. In historical texts, there are at least two versions that are needed. The first evokes that it was a "Place of death", where the rebels are executed.

The second refers to the place of "the destroyed mosque", where the construction of a huge mosque began without the completion in the late sixteenth century. The Arabic term Jemaa El Fna contains both meanings.

The Mellah

The Mellah of Marrakech, east of the Medina, was the Jewish district of Marrakech. It is here that Sultan Abdullah Al-Ghalib moved the Jews to his protected Kasbah in 1558.

The royal family appreciated the talents of the Jewish community of traders, jewelers and bankers who spoke many languages. This protected area was surrounded by walls and entered through two doors. The Mellah seems distinctly different from the rest of the Medina, almost a city in itself - supervised by rabbis, with its own souks, gardens, and synagogues.

The Mellah is a quadrilateral of 18 hectares. It housed 15,000 souls and was considered the largest in Morocco. It was surrounded by a wall with two doors, one giving access to the cemetery and the other to the city.

The present Mellah is now almost entirely inhabited by Muslims, since most of the Jewish communities in Marrakech have moved to Casablanca, France. However, the quarters are distinct and still worth a visit. Do not miss the local Jewish cemetery, the Miaara, with its bright white tombs stretching out into the distance. The oldest synagogue in Marrakech, Rabbi Pinhas, on Talmud Torah Street is still used.

Composed of synagogues and shopping streets, the Mellah was also a place for bargains and is still there. Btw. This is where we find all natural beauty products, jewelry, fabrics and many other products.

The synagogue "Salat El Azama" whose name means "Synagogue of dissidents" was built in 1492 during the time of the great immigration of the Jews of Spain. Located in the heart of the Mellah of Marrakech, this synagogue is considered one of the most beautiful in Morocco, but especially the oldest in the world. It is integrated in a set of buildings built around a large central courtyard, reserving on the floor above the place of worship, a Yeshiva, classrooms where children were taught the teaching of Torah . Currently, the house is inhabited by a Muslim family to which the custody of the place has been entrusted.

The Jewish Cemetery of Miaara dates from the 16th century and is the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco. It is located next to the Muslim cemetery of Marrakech. In accordance with the "Minhaggim" (customs) proper to the Jews of Marrakech, this cemetery is divided into three sections, one for men, one for women, and one for children. It houses the tombs of important rabbis who have marked the history of Moroccan Judaism. They exist different styles of tombs: all white, triangular Andalusian styles or more typical to the imperial cities like Marrakech.

Here you will find the tinsmiths square, very lively, which concentrates many workshops of craftsmen working tinplate and where you can buy handicrafts at a very good price, directly out of the workshops. A few meters away, do not miss the largest jewelery souk in Marrakech, which includes fifty shops selling mainly 18K gold and silver coins, as well as the huge spice souk that occupies part of the market covered.