A Wonderful Tour of Morocco

Classic Tour of the Imperial Cities, we chose Francorosso and the tourist tour, and it turned out to be a good choice for its excellent value for money. The hotels lived up to what was promised, including the variety of dishes offered; spending more by choosing the First Category or Prestige tour is, in my opinion, pointless, also considering that you spend very little time in the hotel. The Tour included visits to Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca. Let's start with Marrakech. Set in a large oasis at the foot of the High Atlas, it is exceptionally green, with orange trees, cypresses, olive trees, palms, oleanders and bougainvillea. You immediately notice the colour of the houses and all the buildings, what is called the "rouge Marrakech", which gives a sense of order even in a place that in some ways is very chaotic.

Among the monuments, the Koutoubia mosque stands out, famous for its 70-metre minaret, visible from afar. The famous Jemaa el Fna square is something unique, the gateway to the Medina with its maze of alleys and lanes, which are supposed to be pedestrian, but where you have to watch out for mopeds that appear suddenly from every direction. The square, crowded at any hour of the day with Arabs, Berbers, Africans and tourists, has kept the flavour of the past, with its acrobats and snake charmers. During the day it is a huge market, and in the evening the stalls give way to kiosks where you can eat food prepared on the spot. The traffic in the evening in this area is impressive; crossing the road becomes an undertaking, amid cars, horse-drawn carriages, donkeys, bicycles and mopeds speeding along with no particular sense of direction.

Marrakech also offers spectacular gardens, such as those of the Menara or the Bahia Palace, and the Majorelle gardens (restored by Yves Saint Laurent). Also noteworthy are the Saadian Tombs, the Dar Si Said museum, and the ancient medersa (a university or student residence, if you prefer). From Marrakech, the excursion to the Ourika valley is interesting, penetrating a green valley with the Atlas in the background, where snow can still be seen. The encounter with the reality of the small settlements in the valley is powerful and engaging. In Marrakech we stayed at the Imperial Holiday hotel.