🏰✨ Bahia Palace, Marrakech: A Masterpiece of Moroccan Grandeur

#summervacay **📍 *Why Visit?*** Built in the late 19th century for a powerful vizier, **Bahia Palace** ("Brilliance") is a **stunning showcase of Islamic and Moroccan architecture**, with **lush courtyards, hand-painted ceilings, and intricate zellige mosaics**. It’s a serene escape from Marrakech’s bustling streets. --- ### **🗓️ Half-Day Itinerary: Palatial Splendor & Hidden Stories** #### **Morning: Palace Exploration** - **8:30 AM** – **Arrive Early** (opens at 9 AM, fewer crowds). - **Grand Courtyard (Court d’Honneur)**: 50-meter **marble expanse** with orange trees. - **Harem Quarters**: 24 rooms for the vizier’s wives—peek at the **stained-glass windows**. - **Private Gardens**: Hidden **cypress trees and rose bushes**. #### **Midday: Tea & Local Flavors** - **11:30 AM** – **Café des Épices** (10min walk) - Sip **saffron tea** on the rooftop with **Atlas Mountain views**. #### **Afternoon: Medina Stroll** - **1:00 PM** – **Nearby Sights**: - **Saadian Tombs** (16th-century royal mausoleums). - **El Badi Palace** (crumbling ruins with stork nests). --- ### **🎨 Must-See Details:** ✅ **Ceiling Art**: **Gold-leaf cedar carvings** in the **Grand Council Room**. ✅ **Courtyard of Honor**: Sunlight filters through **latticework (moucharabieh)**. ✅ **Secret Garden**: A quiet **palm-filled retreat**. --- ### **📌 Pro Tips:** - **Ticket**: 70 MAD (~$7). - **Guides**: Hire one at the gate (~100 MAD) for juicy **palace scandals**. - **Photography**: **No tripods**—but phones are fine! **"Bahia isn’t just a palace—it’s a love letter to Moroccan craftsmanship."** Ready to wander? 🌸🕌