Built at the end of the 16th century, this former palace was built by the Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur Dhahbi to celebrate the Portuguese victory after the Battle of the Three Kings in 1578 at Oued al-Makhazin. However, from the 17th century onwards, the Alawite Sultan Moulay Ismail decided to transfer the capital from Marrakech to Meknes and looted the entire palace to decorate his new palace in this new imperial city. Called the "Palace of the Incomparable", its construction was influenced by the Alhambra of Granada in Spain.
In the past, there was a huge rectangular courtyard in the middle, with a pond in the centre and a monumental fountain topped by water jets. It was an ablutions basin created by Ahmed the Golden to make it the largest in the Maghreb. In addition, there were 4 pavilions facing each other: the Crystal Pavilion, the Audience Pavilion called the Fifty-bend Pavilion, the Green Pavilion and the Heliotrope Pavilion, which were discovered once the great marble door called "Bab Al-Rokham" was crossed. This huge courtyard, now in ruins, reflects the splendour of the building's past with more than 300 rooms dedicated to major official ceremonies and splendid royal celebrations. Indeed, the palace was a symbol of the Sultan's wealth. In the south of the Medina and near the Saadian Tombs, this monument was built with prestigious materials: marble from Italy, gold dust from Sudan, porphyry from India, jade from China and other materials from France and Spain.
Ruins listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Today there are only ruins, orange gardens and high walls on which storks nest. And it was through archaeological excavations in 1953 that the structure of the palace was revealed. However, this place hosts festivals every year including the Marrakech Festival of Laughter created by Jamel Debbouze and the annual folklore festival. In addition, you can also admire an exhibition of old photos of Marrakech and another on the use of underground passages by slaves as well as archaeological objects and the former 900-year-old pulpit to preach that comes from the Koutoubia Mosque: the minbar. It has been located in an annex on the northeast corner of the palace since 1962. Carved in cedar wood and decorated with gold marquetry and inscriptions, it was made by craftsmen from Córdoba in the 12th century for the preaching of the imam. This is an important part of the prayer room.
Practical information from El Bladi Palace in Marrakech: Address: Ksibat Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco Admission fee: 10 DH (1 euro) and 10 DH more for the minbar of Koutoubia Opening hours: From 8am to 5pm. Transport: from Jemaa el-Fna take Riad Zitoun el Kdim Street
