The historic Moroccan city of Marrakesh suffered serious damage in a destructive earthquake that has killed at least 820 people, mostly in rural and remote areas.
Here are five interesting facts about the Ochre City, so named because of the color of its stonework.
–Most popular tourist destination-
Morocco’s top tourist destination, featuring palm trees and opulent palaces from the 11th century, draws more than two million tourists a year. It is located at the base of the Atlas Mountains.
One of the largest in North Africa, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a maze-like old town or medina.
Visitors frequently throng its narrow alleyways to admire its stunning riads (palaces), which feature exquisite zellige tiles, central courtyards, and fountains, or to haggle over prices with vendors for anything from leather slippers to spices.
-Snake charmers and storytellers-
The enormous Jemaa el-Fna square, the beating center of Marrakesh, is where you’ll find dancers, storytellers, snake charmers, and dozens of food stalls serving up authentic Moroccan cuisine every night.
-Huge oasis-
A massive oasis with tens of thousands of palm trees that is as old as the city itself is one of Marrakesh’s other main attractions.
In addition to offering relief from the oppressive heat, dates, a vital component of Moroccan cuisine, are primarily supplied by palm trees.
The oasis is shrinking, according to conservationists, as a result of urbanization and mass tourism.
–Yves Saint Laurent-
Resorts with golf courses have been built there by companies like Club Med.
In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent, a renowned French fashion designer, visited Marrakesh and fell in love.
In particular, his use of color was greatly influenced by the city in his later work.
In order to create his collections, Saint Laurent, who passed away in 2008, would visit there annually with his lifelong partner Pierre Berge.
One of the last tributes to the Berge designer who passed away that year was the opening of a museum in the city in 2017 that was devoted to his designs.
– A movie festival-
Hollywood A-listers congregate in Marrakesh every November for the city’s annual international film festival, with some of the showings taking place in Jemaa el-Fna under the stars.
Some of the celebrities who have walked the red carpet in a nation that has long been a favorite setting for international film shoots include Sharon Stone, Martin Scorsese, Sigourney Weaver, and Robert de Niro.
