Jemaa el-Fnaa Square - Marrakech, Morocco
Posted by: 
denben
N 31° 37.541 W 007° 59.352
29R E 595863 N 3499389
Jemaa el-Fnaa is a square and market place in the Medina district of Marrakech (old town). In 2008, the square was included in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Waymark Code: WMFTN2
Location: Morocco
Date Posted: 11/29/2012
Views: 32
Jemaa el-Fnaa remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary monkeys, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists.
As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks.
The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, a traditional North African market catering both for the common daily needs of the locals, and for the tourist trade. On other sides are hotels and gardens and cafe terraces offering an escape from the noise and confusion of the square.
Narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter, the old city. Once a bus station, the place was closed to vehicle traffic in the early 2000s. The authorities are well aware of its importance to the tourist trade, and a strong but discreet police presence ensures the safety of visitors.
Although we visited the place during the day, the ambience was amazing and the sights and the smells that we experienced here are quite unique. It is a place to see once in a lifetime.
Source: Wikipedia (
visit link)