Guide to Marrakech
Guide to Marrakech
The Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia mosque was built in the 12th century under the Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur to be the crowning glory of his North African based empire, it is indeed today still the largest mosque to be found in Marrakech today. The structure stands 69 metres tall towering over the surrounding city, an impressive structure by any […]
Marrakech Moon
The wonderful quality of light in Marrakech is famous, but don’t overlook the pleasure of sitting out under the Marrakech Moon. The image here is the first moon after the holy month of ramadan 2011. Our Riads in Marrakech provide the perfect base for your holiday adventure.
The ‘Berber look’
One thing that it is impossible to fail to notice whilst meandering round Marrakech’s old town (the medina) is that there are a fair number of people who are quite interested in getting you to spend your money in their shops/stalls. Luckily since the introduction of the Tourist police a few years ago this merely […]
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 […]
Fishing for bottles
In the midst of Jemaa el Fna square every evening you can catch a group of locals in a circle doing something which at first looks rather peculiar, and on closer inspection still looks fairly peculiar, if perhaps somewhat more logical than previously. Most British people will be familiar with the fairground game of a […]
Excursion to Essaouira
Nestled away on the Atlantic Coast a two and a half hour drive away from Marrakech lies the small picturesque Moroccan city of Essouira. It is one of the number one destinations for Marrakchi to take a break from the heat of the inland areas, and rightly so as the city is a wonder to […]
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 […]
Semester at Sea comes to Riad Cinammon and Riad Papillion.
From the 9th to the 12th of august 2011 Morocco received some visitors in the form of a whole cruise ship full of American students. This was thanks to the semester at sea program whereby students embark on a cruise ship (in this case starting in Nassua the Bahamas) and then proceed to tour a […]
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 […]
Saadian Tombs
The Saadian tombs in Marrakech’s medina are the resting place of the former royal dynasty of Morocco, built in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur they were lost for many years only to be rediscovered by archaeologists in 1917. Since then they have become an integral part of any culture or history fans visit to Marrakech. […]
Ramadan in Marrakech
The Islamic calender also has 12 months like the Gregorian, however whereas the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar (i.e. based on the earth’s orbit of the sun) the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This means that the calendar does not correspond directly to the seasons in the same way that the western calendar does, […]
The Jewish community in Marrakech
The Jewish community has a long history in Marrakech and Morocco at large, indeed the history of the community stretches back to antiquity under the Roman empire following the dissolution of the Jewish state in 70 AD with Jewish people arriving after the destruction of the Jewish state. The Jewish people received relatively kind treatment under the sultans due […]
El Badi Palace
A beautiful palace situated in the south of Marrakech’s historic medina, originally built between 1553-1578 by the Sadiaan king Ahmad al-Mansur to host guests and to act as a residence for him and his family as Marrakech was at the time the capital of Morocco the palace was extensively used. Today however the palace is […]
Fresh Orange juice in Jemaa el Fna
When under the boiling sun that is often to be found in Morocco and indeed much of north Africa, there is little more refreshing or thirst quenching than a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. Luckily if you happen to find yourself in the great square of Jemaa el Fna there is certainly no short […]
Marrakech Museum
If you’re looking for a more historical perspective on Marrakech and Morocco or indeed just looking for a tranquil and interesting place to visit between the hustle and bustle of the markets and the souks then Marrakech Museum is what you’re looking for. The museum itself is a classic example of the local architecture meaning […]
Online store benefits Moroccan good causes
Before you travel to Marrakech check out our new online store! When you make purchases in the store Amazon pay an introduction fee of at least five percent. Marrakech Riad donate all these commissions to Moroccan charities and development projects particularly those helping women and children. Brush up on your arabic with a bargain phrase book, […]
Islamic Art in Marrakech
Due to scruples contained within Islamic texts it is forbidden to depict living creatures such as humans or animals. This has not however stopped the Islamic world from developing its own very distinctive and beautiful forms of art, indeed many of the forms and shapes expressed within the realms of Islamic art certainly have benefited from these cultural directives. […]
Orange Canelle a Moroccan treat.
For a fresh taste of Marrakech it is hard to find a better example of a simple yet delicious dish as Orange Canelle or Moroccan Orange Salad. This salad is the simple combination of slices of orange placed on a plate with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top. This seemingly simple dish is a great […]
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 […]