What is most famous about Marrakesh in Morocco?

Marrakesh, also spelled Marrakech, city, southwestern Morocco. In the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is one of the most important cities in the country and is the centre of a traditional region. The city is particularly famous for its ancient medina (old walled city). Within its pink-mud walls are palaces, mosques, gardens, tombs, and souqs (markets). The medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a labyrinthine jumble of narrow streets, alleyways, and passageways that can seem chaotic but is remarkably functional and atmospheric. The focal point of the medina is Jemma el-Fnaa, one of the most remarkable public squares in the world. At night, the square becomes an entertainment centre with dancers, musicians, snake charmers, acrobats, storytellers, and vendors of traditional food.

Other landmarks of Marrakesh include the Ben Youssef Madrasah, a 16th-century Koranic school, and the 19th-century El Badi Palace, with its vast gardens and tiled pavilions. The Koutoubia Mosque is Marrakesh’s largest and most prominent mosque, and its 227-foot (69-metre) minaret towers over the city’s skyline.