El Badi Palace

These tall, old walls, are the last remnants of what was once a wealthy 16th-century outstanding palace, known as El Badi. It was built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur, the sixth sultan of the Saadian dynasty.

Although all that remains today are some large walls in ruins, El Badi was once a sumptuous palace that showcased all the power of the Moroccan sultans. Built using Carrara marble from Italy, gold dust from Sudan, jade from China and countless other precious materials, it was one of the most remarkable palaces in the country.

For a century, it served as a sumptuous residence for the sultans, before being completely stripped of all its finest materials and treasures by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, who used them to build the imperial city of Meknès, some 500 kilometres away. Needless to say that considering the wealth of the palace, he really took everything!

All that remains today are its walls and its huge esplanade adorned with orange tree gardens. However, it remains a true jewel of Islamic art and a great example of 16th-century Moroccan architecture. A visit to the palace will take you through 5 centuries of history, as you explore some of its 360 rooms, including an exhibition of old photos of the city, archaeological objects and an ancient minbar. A minbar is a kind of small staircase that leads to a raised platform in mosques, where the imam sits during prayer. The minbar at the El Badi Palace is a must-see, as it is almost 900 years old.