Marrakesh is Morocco's most intoxicating city. Ever since Morocco's "Jewel of the South" became a trading and resting place on the ancient caravan routes from Timbuktu, the city has barely paused for breath.
Lying low and dominating the Haouz Plain at the foot of the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains (a marvelous sight on a sunny day), the city was stubbornly defended against marauding tribes by successive sultans. They maintained their powerful dynasties and surveyed their fertile lands from the Menara Garden's tranquil olive groves and lagoon, and the Agdal Gardens' vast orchards. Today, exploring the city has never been easier. A crackdown on hustlers who hassle and an undercover Tourist Police mean that you're freer than ever before to wander and wonder.