Marrakech

Marrakech (Amazigh: ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, Mourrākoush; Arabic: مراكش), nicknamed the Pearl of the South or South Gate and red ocher or City City is a city in Morocco, in the interior, in the foothills of the Atlas.

The city was founded in 1062 by Youssef Ibn Tachfin king of Amazigh Almoravid dynasty. In the past, Morocco was known in the East as the Marrakech (name still current in Iran); Morocco name itself comes from the deformation of the Portuguese pronunciation of Marrakech Marrocos.

Marrakech has about 909,000 (Marrakchi) inhabitants, according to the 2012 census, spread over an area of ​​230 km2. The population density is 350 inhabitants per hectare in Medina. It is the fourth largest city in Morocco after Casablanca, Fez and Meknes. The city is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina or historic (ten kilometers speaker) and the new town whose main areas are called Gueliz and Wintering, Askar Douar Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, hamid, Daoudiat. Gueliz is now the commercial center. It was founded by the French during the Protectorate. The Hivernage contains many hotel complexes. In recent years, the city expanded in the periphery, especially in the west with the appearance of new residential districts and for the region of Targa or extension of Avenue Mohammed VI, or north Tamansourt.

Marrakech (Love Akouch) was founded in the year 1062 (454 Hijri) Abu Bakr Ibn Umar sovereign almoravide and cousin Youssef Ibn Tachfin. The name comes from Marrakech Tamazight Mour means "country" and Akouch meaning "God", giving "the land of God." Another etymology gives the interpretation of "land route" 2.

Soon, in Marrakech, led the Almoravids, pious warriors and austere scholars from the current Mauritanian desert, numerous mosques and madrassas (Koranic schools of theology) were built, and a shopping center draining traffic between Western Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. Marrakech is growing rapidly and emerged as an influential cultural and religious metropolis, supplanting Aghmat and Sijilmassa.

Palaces were also built and decorated with the help of Andalucian craftsmen from Córdoba and Seville, who brought the Umayyad style characterized by poly-lobed arches and carved domes. The Andalusian influence merged with the elements even Saharan West Africa and was synthesized in an original architecture completely adapted to the specific environment of Marrakech. The city became the capital of the Emirate almoravide which stretched from the shores of Senegal to the center of Spain and the Atlantic coast to Algiers.

The city was then fortified by the son of Ibn Youssef Tachfin Ali Ben Youssef, who had built 1122-1123 to the walls still visible.


Main pavilion of the Menara Gardens

In 1147 the Almohad supporters of orthodox and Masmoudas tribes from the High Atlas Islam, seized the city. The last Almoravids were exterminated except those who went into exile in the Balearic Islands (family Banu Ghania). Therefore almost all the monuments were destroyed. The Almohad built numerous palaces and religious buildings, such as the famous Koutoubia Mosque built on the ruins of a palace Almoravid and sister of the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower (unfinished) Rabat sister.

The Casbah housed the Caliphate residence (since the reign of Abd al-Mumin Almohad ruler bore the title of caliph, rivaling the far eastern Abbasid caliphate), decorated with a hospital that caught the Andalusian physician Ibn Tufayl. From the majestic whole Kasbah mansourienne, named after the caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, are still the beautiful Bab Agnaw. Marrakech was well worthy to host the capital of the major power in the Mediterranean Muslim West at the time, the Almohad Empire that encompassed the area between Cordoba and Tripoli.

To feed the palm trees and large gardens, an irrigation system was built and perfected. Marrakech, by cultural influence attracted many writers and artists especially from Andalusia, including the famous philosopher Averroes known to have commented extensively and reinterpreted the work of Aristotle.

In 1269, Marrakech was conquered by nomadic Zenata the expense of the last Almohad. When there is the advent of Marinids, Marrakech then fell into a lethargy, and its decline resulted in the loss of its status as capital for the benefit of his great rival, Fez.

Marrakech is one of the university cities of Morocco. Qadi Iyad The university is the largest in the region. More recently, a Graduate School of Visual Arts (ESAV) was created in partnership between Dar Bellarj Foundation and the University of Marrakech, providing the City support for training in film and television. Marrakech also organizes the International Film Festival.

Arts in Marrakech Biennale, born in 2005 is the most important event of contemporary art in Morocco. Contemporary art has become a private museum in Marrakech. This is the museum of the palm, a private initiative due to the collector and creator of perfumes Abderrazzak Benchaâbane. At the Museum of the palm the visitor discovers a collection of paintings, photography, installation and sculpture by Moroccan and foreign artists. The collection shows the work of sixty artists of today and those of the pariiez [What?] Just after the Great War.

It located in Marrakech's first private campus of the kingdom which has several schools such as HECI Group (Hautes Etudes Commerciales and Computer), the Graduate School of Management (ESG), Euromed and Vatel.