CHRISTMAS IN MARRAKECH

AWAKEN THE SENSES

At Christmas in Marrakech you won’t see ornaments, lights, nativity scenes or Christmas trees. Nor will you listen to Christmas carols or run into the typical Christmas markets. At Christmas in Marrakech you will soak up a totally different culture, marked by the call to prayer in mosques, bustling souks, spicy foods, tea or its cozy riads.
Prepare your suitcase and enjoy a Christmas in Marrakech .

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Marrakech

At the foot of the Atlas mountain range and at the gates of the Sahara desert, Marrakech retains the aspect of strength and commercial character that motivated its creation in the mid-eleventh century. Its most recent history is marked by the French protectorate and European influences. However, traveling to Marrakech at Christmas is still a unique experience, like from another world. In the so-called Red City, due to the color of its buildings and its surroundings, it coexists with palaces, mosques, souks, riads, gardens ..., but its main attraction is not its monuments, but the daily life of its inhabitants, which are the true responsible for the charm of Marrakech. The best advice to discover it? Have all five senses wide awake.

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MEDINA OR OLD CITY OF MARRAKECH

The heart of Marrakech is its Medina or old city, a nucleus of great historical importance, in which different dynasties succeeded, from the Almoravids to the Alawis (to which the current King Mohammed VI belongs), passing through the times of splendor of the Almohads and the Saudis. That is why Marrakech is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco, and its Medina houses the main monuments of the city, being also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1985.

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DJEMAA EL FNA SQUARE IN MARRAKECH

The spectacular bastions of red earth delineates the Medina, although once inside it is easy to get lost in its intricate and narrow streets. Forget the map and discover the corners of the old city, knowing that getting lost is part of the experience. You will have no trouble finding the Djemaa el Fna Square, the nerve center of Marrakech. Here you can find everything: a snake charmer, orange juice sellers, spices stands, monkey tamers... It is worth having a drink on the terrace of one of the bars and enjoying the scenes in the square, which transforms throughout the day, continuing its activity at night, with food stalls, musicians and various scenes.

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MARRAKECH SOUK

To visit the Souk is to enter a maze of narrow streets full of stalls, grouped by products and guilds. Here you not only look but also interact with the locals, who approach visitors in search of new customers. You just have to have patience, good humor and train in the art of bargaining to have a good time in this great market where you will find clothes, food, spices, crafts or souvenirs. Although non-Muslims cannot enter mosques, it is worth contemplating the exterior of the most prominent, such as the Koutoubia Mosque, which is the most important in Marrakech. It stands out for its high minaret, reminiscent of the Giralda of Seville. Other places of interest are the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Marrakech Museum, the Royal Palace or the ruins of the great Badi palace.

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VILLE NOUVELLE OR NEW CITY OF MARRAKECH

To disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the Medina, you can visit the ville nouvelle or new city, where the neighborhoods of Guéliz, Hivernage or Palmeraie are located. On Mohamed V and Mohamed VI avenues you will find luxury shops, western-style restaurants and large international hotels. Although to really rest, there is nothing better than entering a hammam and staying in one of its charming riad.

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THE MENARA GARDEN IN MARRAKECH

At Christmas in Marrakech it also has the antidote against the bustle of the city: its gardens, small green lungs of great beauty that have been present since the time of the Almoravids. The Menara Garden is the most visited place, with its pond surrounded by olive trees and chaired by a building that according to legend was the place of love encounters of the sultans of the city. Another of the most interesting ones is the Majorelle Garden, which was designed by the French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1924, later restored by Yves Saint-Laurent. It is a botanical garden with around 300 species of plants, the main characters being cacti and bougainvillea. The most unique thing about this space is the explosion of color, highlighting the cobalt blue of the walls. Majorelle's house has an art deco style and currently houses the Museum of Islamic Art.

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SAHARA DESERT AND THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

But if what you need is nature, to leave the city ... Marrakech is an ideal starting point to enter the Sahara desert or take excursions through the Atlas mountain range. Spending a night in the desert is an unforgettable experience. You will ride on a camel, you will sleep in a haima, you will taste a traditional dinner and you will enjoy the sunrise between the dunes. If you feel like trekking, Marrakech is also your destination, because the Atlas is one of the Meccas of this sport, which is combined with landscapes that will amaze you and hospitable villages of adobe houses that blend with the land.

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MARRAKECH PARTIES

Most Moroccans are Muslims, so the main festivities are linked to this religion, such as the Muslim New Year (First day of the Muharram, August), the Anniversary of the Prophet, the Feast of the Lamb or the End of Ramadan. Ramadan particularly is the celebration best known for its duration, one month, and for taking place in summer, when many tourists visit Morocco. Ramadan is much more than fasting during sunshine hours, as it recalls the first revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad and Muslims devote themselves more than ever to prayer. Other common festivities in the country, such as the Throne Festival (July 30) or Independence Day (November 18), also have weight. Besides these dates, Marrakech hosts cultural and sports parties that can be a good excuse to visit the city. The International Marathon of Marrakech (January), the Festival of Contemporary Dance (January), the National Festival of Popular Arts (July) or the International Film Festival (December) stand out.

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GASTRONOMY IN MARRAKECH

At any time of the day you can see people eating in Marrakech, same as in the rest of the country. Eating is almost a ritual, a way to meet and share a table and talk with family, friends or guests. Haste has no place here, and it is usual to eat from the same dish with the help of hands or bread. Moroccan cuisine is wide and varied, it is never fully known, due to the oral transmission of recipes and the various influences from Berber, Moorish, Mediterranean, Eastern, African, etc. The main ingredients are spices, such as cinnamon, cumin, saffron or mint, which create unique flavors. Among the typical dishes and products that you can’t miss in Marrakech include couscous, tajine, nuts, salads, Harira (soup), lamb, Bissara (mashed beans), fruits or olives. There will be plenty of occasions to have your famous mint tea or almond sweets and flavored with orange blossom and cinnamon water, the basis of Moroccan pastries.

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SLEEPING IN MARRAKECH

To complete your tour through all the Mosques, palaces, gardens, souks, hammam, exotic cuisine, desert, mountains... and your local life in full swing, nothing better than resting in a Riad in Rusticae. Choose between Riad Abracadabra, Riad Belle Epoque, Riad Palacio De Las Especias or Riad Dar Justo, all in the heart of the Medina of Marrakech.

Also Rusticae