The Bahia Palace.

One of the most visited attractions in Marrakech.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

Bahia Palace is a stunning, 19th century palace in Marrakesh.

It’s definitely a must-see if you’re visiting the city, as it’s quite a spectacular place.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

The rooms are decorated with stuccos, paintings, and mosaics to capture the essence of Islamic architecture.

Images by Freebird Tracey.

The word Bahia means  ‘brilliance’ in Arabic, reflecting the splendour of Islamic art and architecture.

It is necessary to book tickets prior to visiting the palace as queues can be extremely long.

They cost 70 dirhams each, and the palace is open from 8.00am-5.00pm daily.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

The courtyard is stunning, and all the rooms open out onto it.

It is rather grand and very spacious with a fountain in the centre and intricate tile work typical of Morroccan culture.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

There is also a 2-acre garden surrounding the palace and beautiful orange trees lining the route to the entrance.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

When Morocco gained independence from France in 1956, the Bahia palace was used as a royal residence. This was until King Hassan II transferred it to the custody of the Moroccan Ministry of Culture.

The building then became a cultural icon and tourist attraction in Marrakech.

Bahia Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city.

It is best to arrive as close to opening time as possible to avoid the crowds.

That way, you can spend time reading about the history of the palace and enjoying the experience before it becomes too overwhelming and you can’t capture any photos.

Image by Freebird Tracey.

I would recommend visiting Bahia Palace.

It’s gives you a good understanding of Islamic culture and the fine craftsmanship that defines it.

If you enjoy looking at Islamic architecture, you could also visit Badi Palace in the Kasbah area of the city.

I have written a separate article about it.

Comments

Leave a comment