New York Times highlights Marrakesh as “a haven of Islamic architecture, dazzling traditional artisanship, cool contemporary design”

The New York Times has highlighted the touristic assets of Marrakech, describing it as “a haven of Islamic architecture, dazzling traditional artisanship, and cool contemporary design.”

In an article published Thursday, The New York Times celebrates Marrakesh as a city combining authenticity and modernity and boasting many tourist attractions.

The author of the piece, Seth Sherwood states that the Medina of Marrakesh, the nearly millennium-old walled city and UNESCO World Heritage site, forms “the heart of Morocco’s onetime capital.”

Highlighting the beauty of the minaret of the medieval Koutoubia mosque and the 16th-century El Badi Palace, the publication notes that Marrakesh stands out as a “haven of Islamic architecture.”

“By visiting Marrakesh right now, you’re not only experiencing a haven of Islamic architecture, dazzling traditional artisanship, cool contemporary design,” and North Africa’s best restaurants, but also lending moral and economic support to a region in recovery, the media writes.

The author further cites Medersa Ben Youssef, a centuries-old religious school, which showcases expert traditional craftsmanship, including tilework and carving, highlighting the city’s Jewish heritage, mainly the Mellah or the Jewish quarter established in the 1500s and which still holds a Jewish cemetery as well as historical synagogues, including Slat Lazama, which has a museum.

For the New York Times, Marrakesh is also an art capital in North Africa with its galleries located notably in the “new city” of Gueliz.

The author also mentions the renowned place of Jamaa El Fna, the Souks and the bazaars which are filled with legions of expert artisans working in metal, wood, ceramics, and textiles.