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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.
Recently in Morocco Category
The Majorelle Garden and Islamic Art Museum in Marrakech
Monday September 21, 2009
Starpick the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers
Thursday August 6, 2009
Casablanca is one of the most fascinating cities in the Middle East, with inspiring sights that surpass its already exotic image. If you've ever thought of visiting it, here's your chance. The Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. Just think, within days you could be visiting the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco, walking the meandering streets of the Old Medina, or seeing what life was like for the former rulers at the Royal Palace of Casablanca. You can easy knowing you're staying in one of the city's most comfortable hotels. With 286 guest rooms appointed with all the latest amenities, a beautiful outdoor pool, and no fewer than six bars and restaurants, you'll find plenty to explore without leaving the building. After a day of sightseeing, unwind with your special someone at Caesar's, an in-house nightclub with cocktails and dancing until 3:00 in the morning. It's a fine way to create some Casablanca memories of your own. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.
Sipping Tea in Casablanca's Parc de la Ligue Arabe
Friday June 13, 2008
I love big cities, especially when they incorporate welcoming green spaces into their urban cores. Such is the case with Casablanca, whose majestic Parc de la Ligue Arabe is a natural oasis amid the controlled chaos of the city. Casablanca's biggest park dates back to 1918, when the city decided a park open for all residents would provide a place for a hard-working population to rest and appreciate the toils of their labor in lush natural surroundings. It was a huge success, and now, 90 years later, it's still one of the best places in the city to retreat into a verdant world of palm trees, flowers, and fountains. It's easy to spend the better part of an afternoon meandering among the French-style gardens, jogging on nature trails, or taking a spin on carnival rides. But perhaps it's best to do what the locals do and simply have a seat at a charming outdoor cafe, order a cup of tea and a few sweet morsels, and enjoy the calming breezes of this pristine desert paradise by the sea. Starwood has two hotels in Casablanca: the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers and Le Royal Mansour Méridien.
Magical Morocco
Thursday June 7, 2007
There's something about Morocco that conjures up thoughts of intrigue and adventure, history and beauty. An enjoyable article from the Sydney Morning Herald describes some of the more memorable spots in this amazing country. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, for example, boasts the world's highest minaret, which, at 210 meters, provides the muezzin call to the faithful five times a day. The mosque itself, which is open to visitors, features an enormous prayer hall, with 77 pillars holding up the majestic ceiling. Elsewhere in Casablanca, commerce has gone on as it has for thousands of years. Travelers buy fine ceramics and jewelry as well as tasty treats from sweet vendors (pictured). Shoppers also love the city of Marrakech, which boasts a grand souk (bazaar) where you can find bargains on exquisite carpets and other textiles if you're not afraid to haggle a bit. As day turns to night, storytellers, musicians, and sword swallowers fill Djemaa el-Fna Square, a perfect way to round out any Moroccan adventure. Starwood has four properties in Morocco: Le Royal Mansour Méridien, the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, Le Méridien N'Fis, and the soon-to-open L'Amphitrite Palace, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
[image via the Sydney Morning Herald]
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More Funky Marrakech
Friday January 26, 2007
One of the safest places to visit in Africa is Morocco. It's an exotic destination; the former stomping grounds of William Burroughs and many a 1960s hippie is also an easy place to get around for any French or Arabic speaker. One of Marrakech's most opulent hotels is the Le Meridien N'Fis, a 277 room hotel with some of the country's finest accomodations. The BBC recently put together a Marrakech day guide that takes in many of the traditional sites and many of the not-so-traditional sites:
Down on the main square, life carries on as it has for centuries though. The square is in the heart of the medina and over the years it's been a place of execution, riots and most famously, the Djemaa el-fna, which means, Assembly of the Dead, a street festival that's held there every day. Locals who come to the souks to shop then spend time in the square, watching the snake charmers or visiting the fortune tellers.
Moroccan Travel
Wednesday October 4, 2006
As travellers become bolder and more adventurous, countries that were once off the beaten path can suddenly become firmly on said path. Morocco is welcoming more and more visitors every year, and now they're not all bohemians. Of course, people become worried that a place like Morocco will lose its native charm, but as this NY Times article points out, locals make sure everything happens at their pace, on their schedule. The travellers' route includes cities like Casablanca and Marrakech - naturally, there are Starwood properties in those places. Casablanca has Le Royal Mansour Meridien and Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, while Le Meridein N'Fis is in Marrakech. Starwood is adding a fourth property in Morocco later this year with the L'Amphitrite Palace in Skhirat.
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