Depending on the circuit you choose, you will have more or less free time. And Marrakech is one of the cities that offers you the most cultural options to make the most of it. As we indicated in this other post about surprising museums in the country, here you can visit the Yves Saint-Laurent museum. But in this article we stop in which, perhaps, is the main visitable space: the Museum of Marrakech. Here we tell you what it is and why you should visit it.
Marrakech Museum Collection
The collection of the Museum of Marrakech is a good sample of ethnographic character, since it exhibits high quality items of Moroccan craftsmanship. These items are distributed between the first floor and the second floor, and the following series can be highlighted:
- Fez ceramics, characterized by the importance of the color blue, used on a white background and in combination with other colors, such as green.
- Cedar wood furniture, which is one of the national trees and very suitable for use in cabinetmaking.
- Berber weapons and jewelry, interesting to learn about this ethnic group and its culture, key to the Moroccan identity, and a differentiating element with respect to other Muslim countries.
- Traditional costumes, both Arab and Berber culture.
In addition to these objects typical of Moroccan craftsmanship, the Marrakech Museum hosts exhibitions of contemporary art, with an obvious abstract component, as it is worth remembering the Islamic prohibition of representing God and the human being, which reduces the possibilities of figurative art in the country.
The museum is managed by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation, which also organizes concerts, conferences and other cultural events.
The building, an attraction in itself
Undoubtedly, one of the most important reasons to visit the Marrakech Museum is, precisely, to admire the building that houses it. It was the palace of a grand vizier Mulay Mehdi Hassan, which allows us to appreciate the opulence and refinement of the high officials of the sultan. In fact, it is also known as “Mehdi Palace”.
Its central courtyard is conceived as the axis of all family life and as a space for welcoming guests, and it is precisely here where one of the most admired elements is located: the huge central lamp, made of copper but with a detail that recalls the typical coffered ceilings of Islamic art. The patio, which was originally uncovered, is now protected with a tarpaulin. In the center of it, three water fountains, the essential element of life and never missing in Muslim gardens and courtyards.
The rooms are decorated with tiles, with tiling on the lower part of the wall. The palace also shows some private relaxation areas, such as its hammam, and spaces necessary for daily life, such as its kitchen, of a more humble character.
Practical information about the Marrakech Museum
If you are interested in visiting the Marrakech Museum freely, here are some practical information that will be useful for you to know and that could change over time, especially regarding the price of admission and opening hours:
- Address: Ben Youssef Square. It is therefore very close to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, another of the main monuments to visit in the city.
- Ticket price: 50 MAD. Children enter free of charge
- Hours: open every day of the week (except special closings), from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. In the winter season (from October to March), the museum closes one hour earlier, at 6:00 pm.
