An overview of Marrakech – Part 13

Places not to miss – continued,

Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa

Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa is an old Koranic school, built in the 14th century. It is home to up to 900 students and it was one of the largest theological schools in North Africa. It closed down in the 1960' s but reopened in 1982 as a public sight, while it does not look like much from the outside, the inside will astound you.

It is not the oldest or most significant of Marrakech monuments, but the Madrasa is one of the city’s most impressive buildings and allows entry to non-Muslims. It was built by the Saadian sultan, Moulay Abdellah around 1565, and was rebuilt in the 16th century. It displays all the fine decorative detailing that characterizes what was the golden age of Moroccan architecture.

The Madrasa, in its earlier days, was part of the complex of the nearby Almoravid mosque which was founded by Ali Ben Youssef during his reign from 1106 to 1142. For a long time, this mosque was the focal point of worship in the medina. Along with the Madrasa, it made up an important centre of the Islamic religion in the country.

You pass through the entrance arch and are led via a long, dark corridor to a square vestibule opening into a large courtyard. This is the Ablutions Basin. On the left is a marble basin carved with floral motifs in the Andalusian style.

The Main Courtyard is at the heart of the Madrasa and is light filled with arcades down two sides, a rectangular pool in the middle and a prayer hall. Every surface has some decoration. The lowest part of the courtyard walls is covered with zellij, which are glazed tiles, in an eight-pointed star motif. Above this is a band of stylized Koranic text that is interwoven with floral designs.

Vertical panels of intricately carved plaster stretch above the tiling and are decorated with inscriptions or geometric patterns.

The Prayer Hall is elaborately decorated and has an octagonal wooden domed roof which is supported by marble columns. The plasterwork features palm motifs and calligraphy of Koranic texts.

The Madrasa was a place for religious instruction. The students who boarded here would have studied the Koran in detail and discussed it with the institute’s learned religious figures.

The Student lived in cells arranged on two levels around the central courtyard. The cells were 130 tiny rooms that were much like monks’ cells. At the time almost 900 students from Muslim countries studied here until the medersa fell out of use.

Continued in part 14