History and Culture
History and Culture
At Marrakech Riad we pride ourselves on offering our guests as much support and information as they require to help them to plan their perfect stay in our beautiful Medina accommodation. Marrakech Morocco, a world heritage site
Marrakech is a culturally rich and diverse city, it has fascinating and complex historical influences. The culture, architecture, cuisine and people of this great red city all reflect the influence of traders, inhabitants and rulers who have gone before. We research and write about interesting facets of this rich historical background. We hope that these pieces of information will help you to gain an understandingof Marrakech before and during your stay with us.
Marrakech Shrine
Peering through an green iron gate covering an open window frame into a dark room during the middle of the day, you notice several women covered in ornately patterned blankets asleep on the floor surrounding a large well decorated box. These are women seaking spiritual help from the enshrined body of Sidi Abdellaziz at-Tabba, one […]
Absinthe, and the Marrakech winter
In Europe Absinthe is synonymous with a distilled highly alcoholic spirit and ‘little green fairies’, however with the local Moroccan population in Marrakech, it is something quite warming and welcoming with the colder winter period setting in when mint is out of season. This herbal tea drink is bought and made in much the same […]
Telecoms Museum
The museum of the phone is an amusing little place, not much publicised to international visitors. It houses an interesting collection of phones demonstrating the progression of telecoms over the 20th century. There are certainly one or two surprises there for youngsters who will enjoy seeing what was considered modern ‘ back in the day’. […]
Gnawi rhythm instrument: Hajhoj Santir or Gumberi
HajHoj is the arabic name for an African instrument that arrived in the north of the continent during the golden age of Morocco in the 15 century. Slavery was common at that time and it was through music that slaves transported from sub saharan Africa retained a link to their own cultures and faiths. A […]
Marrakech Mint and Herbs
One of the delights of Magical Marrakech is a traditional mint tea which is usually made from seven or more mint and herb varieties. What could be more refreshing as you relax in your Marrakech Riad. The video above shows a young man called Mohamed who takes care of his family mint and herb stall […]
Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace was built relatively recently at the end of the 19th Century by Sidi Moussa a leading nobleman of his time who buit his fortune on the slave trade. Under the French protectorate it was used to house French army officers. Spacious and airy the palace is decorated with mosaics and plaster work. […]
Marrakech Silver Coins
In the 11th century Marrakech was the Capital of the Almoravid dynasty and issued its own currency. The square silver coins (to the left on the image above) are from this period. The round coins to the right are a currency that circulated in Marrakech three centuries later. All these coins are silver, note how […]
Ksar Ait Ben Haddou
The Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO world heritage site accessible in a day trip from our Marrakech Riad hotels. A prime example of a complete fortified village of traditional Berber earth construction comprising a look out tower, a mosque, a granary, a public square, a Fondouk (or caravanserai to accommodate passing merchants), and […]
Tiskiwin Museum
The Tiskiwin Museum is a truly a hidden gem. Tiskiwin was founded by Bert Flint (a Dutch anthropologist who has been resident in Marrakech since 1957) to display the best of his personal collection of Amzigh berber artefacts. Such is its importance that Tiskiwin is now part of the Marrakech University Cadi Ayyad. The unassuming Mr Flint is […]
Berber Museum
The newly refurbished Berber museum is a fantastic resource cataloguing the essentials of domestic life, clothing and jewellery with all regions of Morocco represented. The exhibits are beautifully displayed and lit and have rightly received rave reviews. Many thanks to Sarah Corbett for the image above. Sarah is a renowned specialist in Berber Silver and […]
Decorated Berber Furniture
There is a long tradition of decorating Berber furniture with painted patterns. In respect of islamic the patterns are geometric shapes that do not depict living things. This delightful litte table sits in the Essaouira Suite at Riad Cinnamon. The decor in our Marrakech Riads is carefully selected to be reflect local tradition.
Musee de l’art de vivre & Cafe
THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN IN 2012 The Museum has now closed to be replaced by a museum of perfume in the same location The Musee de l’art de vivre brings alive some of the social history of Morocco, at the time of writing a fantastic selections of Kaftans is on display with explanations placing […]
Moroccan craft weaver
This weaver is making traditional scarves on a traditional berber loom. this could be a mediaeval scene, it is fantastic to see such crafts alive and thriving in Modern day Marrakech The beauty of staying in a Riad in Marrakech is that centuries of living history are right on your doorstep.
Svenj, Morroccan donuts
Prepared fresh each morning Svenj sometimes written Sfenj or Svenge is a Moroccan donut or Beignet. A delicious everyday food enjoyed by rich and poor alike it is often eaten with sweet mint tea for breakfast. Marrakech Svenj specialist Mohammed has been cooking this traditional dish for 23 years. Below is his ‘secret recipe’ and method: Ingredients: […]
Rais Elghanbaz, Ribab group
The arabic word Rais usually means ships captain, the berber language has borrowed this word to describe the leader of a group, like this one, that play with the traditional Ribab instrument. Recorded live in the Jemma al Fnaa square Marrakech at the time of the Marrakech Film festival 2011, note the giant outdoor screen […]
Snail seller, Mostafa Elbahja
Mostafa Elbahja is the self appointed NUMBER ONE Babbouch (snails) vendor in the Jemma al Fnaa square, in this film he explains in comical fashion the health benefits of eating his snails marinaded in spices like the cinnamon, ginger, cumin, rosemary and aniseed. Orange juice sellers provide the backdrop as Mostafa tells us how his snails are good […]
Qu’elle est jolie, Jemaa al Fnaa
Qu` elle est jolie is a folk group usually to be found playing in the Jemma al Fnaa square opposite to the landmark Cafe France. Their best known song of the same name switches between Spanish, Berber, French and the Darija Moroccan dialect. The group was established in the early 1980s, and today usually comprises four or five […]
Yussef, plaster carver
The Marrakech street ‘traffic’ whizzes by as young plaster carver Yussef works on a piece in his boutique in the Souk Sidi Isshak near to the Ben Yussef Medersa in central Marrakech just around the corner from Riad Cinnamon. Youssef is a 17 years old, since he left school he has been learning this craft […]
Arts in Marrakech Biennale 2012
The fourth Marrakech Biennale will take place between 29th February and 4th March 2012. Visual Arts Exhibitions will remain open until 3rd June. The main Exhibition entitled ‘Higher Atlas’ will be located in the sixteenth century Al Badi Palace. The full programme of events including Film, Literature and Music will be announced nearer the time. […]
Introducing Riad STAR
We are grateful to our guests at our Riad hotels who have been wonderfully supportive recommending us to family and friends. With so few rooms at each Riad we have, more often than we would have liked, had to explain that we were fully booked for returning guests preferred dates. It seems our Marrakech Riads are not […]
Moroccan sweets: Shebakia
During Ramadan there is a particular Moroccan sweet or cookie that is particularly popular, this dish is called Shebakia and it closely represents a pretzel to the western eye-view however it is disimilar to a pretzel in that it is sweet and is fried as opposed to bake. The dish is relatively easy to bake […]
Expertly Guided Marrakech Jewellery trip
Renowned Jewellery expert Sarah Corbett is leading her latest five day shopping trip based at Riad Papillon starting on 31st January 2012. Sarah’s comprehensive Itinerary is as follows: Arrival Day … A driver will be waiting for you on arrival at Menara Airport Marrakech. Transfer to your beautiful Riad, Riad Papillon. time to explore or […]
Supporting Local people.
Here at Riads Cinnamon and Papillon we buy as much as possible of our food from local suppliers. We shop daily visiting our regular stall and shop owners. Their personal relationships directly back to the farmer mean that we know where our food has been right from the minute that it has been picked till […]
Argan oil
Argan oil can be used in many forms, from massage oils, face creams and peanut butter to bread dipping. Such is the versatility of this oil that it can be used for all myriad of purposes. Any visit to Marrakech or any of the other southern regions one is highly likely to encounter a large […]