Marrakech is an intense city, with powerful sounds, sights, and smells confronting you at every turn, so it's good to know there's a serene place to visit when you need to regain your bearings. The Majorelle Garden is located in the city's new town, and it's a veritable oasis of natural life and color amid the hustle and bustle of the city. Built in the 1920's by the French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle, the garden features lush vegetation, tranquil water features, and unique architectural elements that create a living work of art. Open to the public since 1947, it has been lovingly restored by its new owners, Pierre Berg and Yves Saint Laurent, who took care to preserve its traditional Moroccan aesthetic. In the center of the garden, occupying the artists' former studio building, is the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, which is filled with art from the Maghreb, Orient, Africa and Asia. With everything from ceramics and pottery to jewelry and ornate weapons, it's one of the most impressive Islamic art collections in the country. Even the building - a striking cobalt blue edifice designed by architect Paul Sinoir in 1931 - is a work of art, at once rising above and blending in with its surroundings. Starwood has one hotel in Marrakech, the luxurious Le Méridien N'Fis, while the W Marrakech Hotel is slated to open in 2011.
