Marrakech Medina

One of the largest traditional walled cities in North Africa/Everyday Places

The Medina of Marrakech is the historic fortified old town at the heart of Marrakech, Morocco, enclosed within 19 kilometers of pink-red rammed-earth walls (pisé) dating to the 12th century. The medina covers approximately 6 square kilometers and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its labyrinthine network of narrow alleys, covered markets (souks), riads, mosques, and palaces makes it one of the largest and most intact medieval Islamic cities. The famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square at its center has been a gathering place for storytellers, musicians, and food vendors for nearly a thousand years. The distinctive pink-red color of its walls gives Marrakech the nickname 'Red City.'