An overview of Marrakech – Part 12

Places not to miss – continued,

Saadian Tombs

The Royal tombs of the Saadian dynasty are beautifully decorated with domed ceilings, intricate carvings and ornate plasterwork. This is a popular sight in Marrakech, so prepare yourself to stand in line when you' re going there. This is a very small site and can be easily crowded by the presence of just a single tour group. If you plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon you stand the best chance of avoiding the crush. The Sultana Hotel next door has a good rooftop terrace restaurant which is open to the public for lunch and dinner.

The tombs are the secluded burial place of a dynasty and there are 66 royal tombs. The tombs that are here date from the late-16th and early-17th centuries. They were unknown to the outside world until the 1920s when they were revealed by the curiosity of a French official. The complex is modest in size but it is beautifully decorated in the Alhambran style with plenty of carved cedar, stucco and polychromic tiling. The tombs have three main burial chambers that are ranged around a small garden.

Saadian Dynasty (1549–1668), set out from their powerbase in Taroudant, to the south of the Atlas Mountains and defeated the ruling Merenids of Fès. They established their court at Marrakech and in doing so they revitalized the city, building many grand monuments. However, they were in power for less than 120 years.

The entranceway to the tombs is reached by the narrowest of twisting passageways. This explains why the tombs remained a closely guarded secret for centuries.

The first chamber was intended to be a place of prayer but now contains tombs. Most of these however are not from the Saadian era, but date back only to the Alouite rulers’ era.

The Hall of Twelve Column holds the tombs of the Sultan Ahmed El Mansour, along with his entire family. The stele is in finely worked cedar and stuccowork. The graves are beautifully designed and made from the striking Carrara marble that is imported from Italy.

A grand pavilion at the garden’s centre is the only real bit of architecture in the complex. A tall, ggreen-tiled roofed structure in the Andalusian style, it has three soaring portals with beautiful carved wood and a stucco frieze of eight-pointed stars. Housed within this are more mosaic covered tombs.

The Garden has countless headstones dotted among the bushes and plants. These mark the tombs of several children, plus guards and servants.

Continued in part 13