Marrakech is one of the four imperial cities and it lies in the center of the Haouz plain, South Morocco. It was founded in 1062 by Yusuf ibn Tashufin as the African capital of the Almoravid dynasty. It fell to the Almohads in 1147, passed to the Marinids in 1269, and was the capital under the Saadians in the 16th cent. In the medieval era, it was one of Islam's great cities. Now it is a popular tourist resort and it has many historical buildings and a well-known souk.

Marrakech is not only a fantastic city, it is also a symbol of the Morocco that once was, and which still survives here. The streets of the old and pink city have been too narrow to allow the introduction of cars, and tourists searching for the "real" Morocco have turned the medieval structures of Marrakech into good business. The tourists that come here all through the year have still not managed to change its character. Actually their high number contribute in a positive way to preserve one of the greatest monuments of the Morocco that once was. And the people of Marrakech love their city even more, and Moroccans all over the country would not let down an opportunity of visiting it. The most worthwhile tourist traps are collected inside a rather small zone, starting in the north with the suuqs, continuing through the town square of Jemaa l-Fna with its crowd of storytellers, musicians and the Koutoubia mosque which is visible from practically anywhere in Marrakech. Going beyond this, the Menara gardens- by young Marrakechians considered as the most romantic place in town- is high up on the list. The famous town square of Marrakech, Jemaa l-Fna, owes little of its fame to its own beauty, but to the continuous day and night life. During most of the days, performers of every kind put up their shows, continuing until the food stalls start to move in. From the Jemaa there are several entries to the fantastic suuqs, and for anyone who needs to relax for a while, there are plenty of cafes around the Jemaa, where the main attraction is looking at the ongoing activities. It is very unlikely that showers may occur and the average minimum (morning) and maximum (day) temperatures in June are respectively 17°C and 32°C.

Marrakech