The palace EL-BADI,which means "the incomparable",to reach means "the incomparable",to reach it return through the BAB AGNAOU and turn immediately right towards place des Ferblanturs:EL-BADI is on the S side of the place through BAB Berrima .
Another Palace which the splended in Marrakesh is the BAHIA palace.
This Palace is an andalucian in stytle -built around a patio crowded with fountains and plants .You enter the building along a passage way lined with ancient wooden doors complete with heavy and intercate looking devices.First there is a room containing a variety of chidren's toys ,also made of wood including what must surely be the forerunner of Big Wheel, withs carriages ,each big enough for one child ,handing on four spokes maring a kind of vertical roundabout .The jewellery room is dominated by great Roman-style fibulas as worn by Berber women ,together with earnings and elaborate head-dresses.Then there is a room full of weapons ,including the long and heavy "Fantasia" rifles which an traditionally held aloft in one hand and shot in the air as the rider gallops along at top speed.
Another room contains nothing but copper and brass household utensils ,here are the typical kettles with their ornamental stands still used in the hand-washing ceremony before and after a traditional
Morrocan meal.Coffee pots ,hexagonal sugar boxes typical of Marrakesh ,imcense burners for driving out evil spirits and very ornate bowls with conical lids containingbread.The kaftan room is particulary splendid.
Upstairs is the main reception room ,obviously used for family occasions and today arranged as for Wedding.It hold two major pieces of furniture, both made of cedarwood: one is a many-sided tow -tiered table used for displaying Wedding presents; the other is a traditional marriage chair ,intricately painted and with the usual very hight seat .
The reason for its elevation is two-fold:it was always necessary for the bride to be clearly visible to all the guests, and it was necessary to disconrage her from running away should the first sight of her intended husband be too crowful to contemplate tradititionally she would not have met before the ceremony.The lastrooms contain carpts ,mainly Berber concepts from the Middle and High Atlas mountains.The colours are predominautly dark red and gold.
The BAHIA Palace next door is empty but it certainly merits a visit as a fine example of 19C Andalucian-style domestic Architerture.It is built around alarge cntral countyard with gracious colonnades,fonutains and a green and white mosaic floor,which creates an effect of infinite coolness on hot summer days .The palace is approached through an avenue of orange trees ,geraniums ,daturer ,jasmine,and a few Rofty palms .This is typical of old Marrakesh.
The Momounia palace is the luxurious palace set inbeautiful walled gardens.The atmosphere is dignified and style of architucture inside is Moorish with or touch of Vicoriana.It isconvenicatly situated betweenSouks and the Djmaa el Fna .
Allrooms are at the back and face the Atlas .Below you is the swimming pool ,heated in winter,in its setting of learning palms ,orange ,limm and grapefruit trees and cypresses.
This is the modern Marrakesh.
