The Bahia Palace in Marrakesh

Castles, palaces, anything with a royal connection and I am game. On my trip to Morocco some of the group decided to sit out on our visit to the royal palace in Marrakesh but I was eagerly awaiting that part of the trip. The Palace of Bahia, a word which means brilliant in Arabic, is hidden down windy streets on the border of where the Jewish Quarter meets the Old City.

As palaces go this one is not particularly old, only dating back to the 19th century but the combination of Moroccan and Islamic cultures are evident throughout the 150 rooms. Our local tour guide walked us through more than 20 of the main rooms along with the gorgeous courtyards and gardens. I was corrected when I called it a royal palace because despite its grandeur it was not actually the home of a royal but instead it was built for the Grand Vizier of the Sultan.

While the day was particularly hot we had a lot of other things on the agenda that required covered shoulders and knees so I opted for a black and white flowy maxi dress which I think worked quite well against many of the palaces gorgeous facades, if I do saw so myself. Plus, I love palaces where you can take pictures without a charge though I think it would have been even more regal with furniture but the stained glass, intricate stucco work, and beautiful word carvings were more than enough to keep us occupied. In case you are in town and want to visit the Bahia Palace in Marrakesh is open every day from 9am to 4pm and I would suggest going as early as possible, before the crowds, and it is better to have the 70 DH in cash.

Is this the kind of spot you would like to visit?