Saadian Tombs

This unique site, which has been open to the public since 1917, is a major stop-off on any visit to Marrakech. This is where the tombs of the great Saadian sultans and their families are located. They ruled the city between 1524 and 1659.

Found next to the Moulay el Yazid mosque, the Saadian Tombs are housed in magnificent rooms with Hispano-Moorish decor designed by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur Saadi, the sultan who built the breathtaking El Badi palace.

Although they only reigned for just over a century, the Saadians enabled Morocco to become a great and wealthy power. It was one of them, known as Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik, who protected Morocco from Portugal, which had come to conquer Arabic lands. In a final confrontation that was largely won by the Moroccan army, the King of Portugal was killed in battle, along with the Sultan and his predecessor. This confrontation would later be known as the “Battle of the Three Kings” and would cause the downfall of Portugal, which would be invaded two years later by Spain.

The Saadians were at the height of their power. They conquered new lands around them and transformed Morocco into one of the most powerful countries in Africa. They embellished the city of Marrakech and made it the country’s capital.

This explains why these tombs are so important for Marrakech and for Morocco in general, and why they have become one of the most visited places in the country. They are also a fine illustration of the incredible wealth of the Saadian dynasty.