Marrakech is one of the main cities of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country, after Casablanca, Fez and Tangier. [3] It is the capital of the central southwestern region of Marrakech Safi. Located north of the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is 580 km (360 miles) southwest of Tangier, 327 km (203 mi) southwest of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, 239 km (149 miles) south of Casablanca and 246 km (153 miles) northeast of Agadir.
Marrakech is perhaps the second most important of the four former imperial cities of Morocco after Fez. The region has been inhabited by Berber farmers since Neolithic times, but the current city was founded in 1062 by Abu Bakr ibn Umar, chief and cousin of the Almoravid king Yusuf ibn Tashfin. In the 12th century, the Almoravids built many madrasas (Koranic schools) and mosques in Marrakech which bear Andalusian influences.The red city walls, built by Ali ibn Yusuf in 1122-1123, and various buildings constructed of red sandstone during this period, gave the city the nickname “Red City” or “Ocher City”. Marrakech grew rapidly and established itself as a cultural, religious and commercial center for the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa; Jemaa elFnaa is the liveliest place in Africa.
After a period of decline, the city was overtaken by Fez, but at the beginning of the 16th century, Marrakech again became the capital of the kingdom. The city regained its preeminence under the wealthy Saadian sultans Abu Abdallah alQaim and Ahmad alMansur, who graced the city with lavish palaces such as the El Badi Palace (1578) and restored many ruined monuments. From the 17th century, the city became popular with Sufi pilgrims for the seven patron saints of Morocco, who are buried here. In 1912, the French protectorate in Morocco was established and T’hami El Glaoui became Pasha of Marrakech and held this post almost throughout the protectorate until the role was dissolved with the independence of Morocco and the restoration of the monarchy in 1956.
