{"id":413232,"date":"2026-06-25T16:14:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T19:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=413232"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:50:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T19:50:20","slug":"architecture-reflected-in-marrakechs-jewels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/architecture-reflected-in-marrakechs-jewels\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture reflected in Marrakech\u2019s jewels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 The city of Marrakech, in south-central Morocco, bakes under the blazing sun and intense heat. Even so, the Atlas Mountains ensure that waterways continue to irrigate the city. Still, temperatures can easily reach 37\u00b0C (99\u00b0F) on an autumn day. For centuries, these harsh conditions led the peoples of Morocco\u2014including the Berbers and the Arabs\u2014to develop solutions to cope with the heat and water scarcity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One such example is the Bahia Palace (al-Bahia meaning “the Brilliant” in Arabic). Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, the Arab-Andalusian-style palace began taking shape around 1870 and continued to be expanded in the years that followed. It is currently undergoing restoration work, which does not prevent visitors from exploring its courtyards planted with tangerine trees or its halls and wings, designed to promote natural air circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Techniques for creating ceramic designs and carving plaster are part of the architectural heritage of the former Islamic school<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The building\u2019s ceiling is made of cedar, a type of wood found in the country\u2019s mountains. Inside, it is painted with colorful floral motifs inspired by the Amazigh, or Berbers, the region\u2019s original inhabitants. For the Berbers, who make up nearly half of Morocco\u2019s population of 38 million, colors carry symbolic meanings and are an integral part of the country\u2019s cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the 7th<\/sup> century onward, Arabs and Islam took root in the country. Alongside Berber culture, Islamic tradition is carved into the walls of the Bahia Palace. Verses from the Quran, Islam\u2019s holy book, adorn the palace\u2019s plaster-finished walls. The palace floors also feature another hallmark of Arab craftsmanship: geometric patterns created using the Moroccan technique known as zellige, in which ceramic tiles are carved or glazed to form intricate designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bahia Palace is located in Marrakech\u2019s historic Jewish Quarter within the medina. About a 20-minute walk away is another major landmark: the Ben Youssef Medersa. Also known as a madrasa (\u201cschool\u201d in Arabic), the building was commissioned by Sultan Abdullah Al-Ghaleb Assaadi and completed in 1565. It served as an Islamic school for centuries. The complex features 136 rooms spread across two floors, as well as a central courtyard, a prayer room, and an ablution room, where Muslims wash their hands and feet before praying.<\/p>\n\n\n

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At Bahia Palace, courtyards are adorned with gardens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A basin used for ablution was brought from Andalusia, the region of present-day Spain ruled by the Arabs between 711 and 1492. It is considered an Islamic treasure, with geometric, floral, bird, and fish motifs carved into its surfaces. The basin was commissioned by Youssef Ben Tachfine, founder of the Almoravid dynasty, one of the empires that ruled Morocco between 1009 and 1106.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The zellige found at Bahia Palace is also featured here, decorating parts of the floors and walls. The walls are adorned with verses from the Quran and arabesque motifs carved in plaster, along with one of Islam\u2019s most prominent forms of artistic expression: calligraphy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The classrooms are arranged along the corridors of the rectangular building. At its center lies a courtyard that captivates visitors by bringing together all these architectural elements around a central reflecting pool.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A detail on a tiled column at Bahia Palace features a verse from the Quran: \u201cIn the name of God. What God wills. There is no power except through God, the Highest, the Almighty\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rich in architectural solutions, the school is also a remarkable example of engineering. The central reflecting pool served a purpose beyond decoration. It stored rainwater collected from the roofs and channeled through a network of pipes. Once in the central courtyard, the water was used for personal hygiene, cooling the building, and general maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANBA visited Marrakech and Casablanca during a press trip organized by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT<\/a>) and Braztoa<\/a>, the Brazilian tour operators association, with support from GTA Seguros<\/a>. This is the second article in a series on the tourist destinations of Marrakech and Casablanca, two cities that reflect the multicultural character of Morocco while preserving the heritage of its Arab and Berber peoples, the \u201cfree men of the desert.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the other articles in the series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morocco expects 20% more tourists from Brazil<\/a><\/blockquote>