While staying a month in Morocco’s tourist hub, I aimed at another challenge—navigating myself in a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Medina of Marrakech. From bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square to labyrinths of souks: I walked through them, familiarised some alleys, immersed myself into the vibes, grabbed some food, got some work done with Moroccan mint tea, and took photos from only my mobile phone. Yet, according to the GPS metadata, I haven’t even explored half of the complex. Nonetheless, each time getting lost in the ancient walled city was stimulating.
Having just moved from a more composed city, Casablanca, my first encounter of the food market in the Medina (old city) on New Year’s Eve was exhilarating with the sound of street performances, the smoke and smell of food vendors, and hawkers luring customers. I couldn’t resist the bait. Since then, until the last week in the city, I commuted there every week either on foot or by bus.
What got me hooked was the vibrant and intricate details of craftsmanship displayed on doors, shop windows, walls, and ceilings. They were full of fabulous handicrafts: woodcarving, metal works, textiles, leathers, etc.
That also reflected on the variety of food. From street vendors in the square to rooftop restaurants, from traditional tagine dish to Moroccan mint tea while getting work done—the Medina served me all and in between. One day, I got there while they were setting up food stalls, a bonus visual feast before their routine dynamics ramped up.
The Medina of Marrakech was founded in 1070. It has been busy as a crossroads between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean. It’s even more significant today as an all-round marketplace serving locals and a tourist destination attracting visitors all over the world, me included.
See more galleries of UNESCO World Heritage sites: