Morocco

Marrakesh is known as the capital of the south: a uniquely African Moroccan city.


	No visit to Marrakesh is complete without a visit to Djemaa el-Fna, a huge square in the medina containing the greatest souq in the south. People travel from all over the world to shop and experience its charms. Step back in time to 1,001 Arabian nights and enjoy the story tellers, jugglers, snake charmers, acrobats and musicians. Lively at any time of day it comes into more life at dusk when open air food stalls smoke the area with mouth watering aromas.


	Wander through the variuos souqs and there are plenty of opportunities to watch artisans at work: weaving rugs, dying fabrics, making slippers and hammering metals.If you are a carpet lover you are in the right place. Visit the carpet souq, also known as the Criee Berbere to buy beautiful Moroccan rugs.


	Visit one of Marrakesh's famous palaces: the Palais el-Badi which was built in the 16th century. It took over 20 years to complete by the best craftsmen of the time and contains marble columns and gold leaf brought from Timbuktu. Around the city are several beautiful gardens to visit including the Jardin Majorelle and Museum of Islamic Art owned by Yves Sant-Laurent and open to the public