• Edoardo Giacopuzzi
  • Edoardo Giacopuzzi

Marrakech and desert

A week break away visiting Marrakech and the desert. Read more
  • Trip start
    November 11, 2023
  • Landed in Marrakech

    November 11, 2023 in Morocco

    After almost 4h of flight and a long queue for passport control we are finally out of the airport... A little tired but we just need to wait for our transport to finally be in Marrakech!

  • Riad les ammonites

    November 11, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    We finally arrived at our accommodation a traditional riad in the old Marrakech town. The atmosphere is fascinating and the host is really welcoming. They offered us mint tea and some sweets before we finally went to bed. Our traditional room is decorated in traditional style so we can immerse in the Moroccan from the very beginningRead more

  • Refreshed and ready to explore

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After a good night of sleep we had breakfast on the internal courtyard of the riad. A mix of tasty local sweets and home made fruit jam was served together with coffee and milk. The perfect way to energize before we go out exploring. We also spent a few minutes taking a look at the beautiful terrace on the roof.Read more

  • Walking the old town in the morning

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We take a short walk around the old town in the morning. The city was just waking up with many shops not open yet and many preparing for the day. The narrow streets and people moving around with motorcycles everywhere give you a taste of how animated this is during the dayRead more

  • Bahia palace part1

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We first stopped at the Bahia palace, a magnificent example of traditional Moroccan architecture. It is composed by 2 riads and rooms are finely decorated with Arabic motives and pavements.

  • Bahia palace part2

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We continue to walk around the Bahia palace moving from the small to the great riad while admiring the amazing colors of the traditional decorations and water fountains. The gardens inside are a perfect example of the Arabic garden traditions and create a fantastic atmosphereRead more

  • Walking around the old town

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    After visiting the palace we spent some time walking around the many small streets in the old town. It's a labyrinth of small alleys crossing each other and each full of small shops. People move around quickly walking and cycling. Also many motorbikes which make the air quite polluted. The atmosphere is special full of sounds, colour and smells.Read more

  • Lunch time with local lamb

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    For lunch we headed to a small street that is renowned for lamp butchers and grills. Here we stopped at Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha. They serve generous mix plates of lamb grilled and cooked traditional style. The location is simple, with great prices. The lamb with traditional bread and spices was delicious although a little too fat for us.Read more

  • The coranic school

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    In the afternoon we visited the old coranic school. Active from the 1500, and now a museum, this building is another stunning example of the traditional Moroccan architecture. Here many small rooms for students are built on 2 floors around the main courtyard. All pavements are decorated with traditional motifs. The light makes fantastic reflex all around the building creating a great atmosphereRead more

  • La quobba amoraviae

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We made a quick stop at this old building made at the center of an ancient canal and water accumulation system. Even if we decided not to take the complete tour, we looked at the it from the outside.

  • The secret gardens

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    The secret gardens are an incredible example of Arabian gardens architecture. The gardens have been fully renovated to reproduce the ancient structure. The gardens are amazing, with a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The fountains and refreshing shadows under the trees contribute to realizing a perfect relaxing stop during our visit to the city.Read more

  • Tea on the roof top

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Before returning to our hotel, we stopped in a nearby bar for a traditional mint tea. We sat on the nice rooftop and enjoyed a moment of relaxation with a nice view on the roofs of the old town and accompanied by the sweet taste of the mint tea.Read more

  • Dinner in the central square

    November 12, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We decided to have dinner in the central square. In the evening the square transforms from a normal market to a big food market with small shops offering all kinds of local food. The marketing is a little aggressive but in the end you just have to pick your favorite, sit down and let them serve you some local specialties. Everything is good and tasty so you can make no wrong choices!Read more

  • Majorelle gardens part1

    November 13, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    After a 30 mins walk we arrived at Majorelle gardens. It's a large renowned complex of gardens that also contains the Yves Saint Laurent memorial. The whole complex is amazing. Luxurious vegetation mixes with the vibrant colours of vases and pavements sapiently organized in chromatic contrasts.Read more

  • Yves Saint Laurent museum

    November 13, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We completed our tour of this area by visiting the Yves Saint Laurent museum. This collects drawings and original dress models made by the famous fashion designer. At the end a short video summarizes his life and achievements while showing some of his most iconic dresses. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed inside expositions so we just took one at the entrance.Read more

  • Dinner @ Le trou au mur

    November 13, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We had a lovely dinner on the terrace of this restaurant. We enjoyed some traditional recipes with an incredible atmosphere and a great view on the old city roofs. Food was delicious so a great night!

  • Saadian tombs

    November 14, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The Saadian tombs are a fascinating funerary complex located just outside the old town. There are various buildings in old Arabic style protecting the most important tombs surrounded by nice and peaceful gardens. All around colorful mosaic tombs of dignitaries. The atmosphere is quiet and a completely different experience compared to a traditional cemetery.Read more

  • Koutoubia mosque

    November 14, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We walked a brief distance from Saadian tombs to reach the Koutoubia mosque. As other mosques in Marrakech the access is allowed only to Muslims, but the gardens around are nice. We walked all around to see the mosque from different angles. The sun staring on gave a special touch to our view.Read more

  • Parc Lalla Hasna

    November 14, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After the mosque we explored the nearby park. The trees create nice shadows protecting from the hot sun and the two fountains create a nice refreshing atmosphere. From the right angle you can admire them with the mosque behind creating a fascinating view.Read more

  • Lunch on the terrace

    November 14, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We stopped for lunch at chez chegrouni a small local restaurant with a nice terrace. From there we had a tasty lunch with local tajine and chawarma while enjoying the view of the square.

  • Dinner @ Naima cous cous

    November 14, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    We had dinner in a very small local restaurant near the riad. They only serve one dish: cous cous with vegetables and chicken. The portions are generous and the cous cous is delicious, a real local experience! Included in the price there is water, mint tea and cookies at the end.Read more

  • Baisin du Marrakech

    November 15, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    For our last day in Marrakech we decided to try the traditional hammam. We booked a 3h experience at Le Baisin du Marrakech including traditional hammam, mud treatment and a massage with argan oil. The place and the service were amazing, a really relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The peace and quiet inside is a total contrast with the chaotic city outside.Read more

  • Dinner @ Der Essalam

    November 15, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    We closed our last day in Marrakech with a dinner at Der Essalam restaurant. It is a touristic place, but the location is fascinating, and the food is good for a reasonable price. The great dining hall is amazing and the dinner is animated by music and dance. A nice way to close our visit to the city.Read more