Culture Marrakesh

1 culture

1.1 museums

1.1.1 marrakech museum
1.1.2 dar si said museum
1.1.3 museum of islamic art


1.2 music, theatre , dance
1.3 crafts
1.4 festivals
1.5 cuisine

culture
museums
marrakech museum

the marrakech museum, housed in dar menebhi palace in old city centre, built @ end of 19th century mehdi menebhi. palace restored omar benjelloun foundation , converted museum in 1997. house represents example of classical andalusian architecture, fountains in central courtyard, traditional seating areas, hammam , intricate tilework , carvings. has been cited having orgy of stalactite stucco-work drips ceiling , combines mind-boggling excess of zellij work. museum holds exhibits of both modern , traditional moroccan art fine examples of historical books, coins , pottery produced moroccan jewish, berber , arab peoples.

dar si said museum

dar si said museum, known museum of moroccan arts located north of bahia palace. townhouse of sidi said, brother grand vizier bow ahmad, , constructed @ same time ahmad s own palace de la bahia. townhouse envy of reigning sultan abd al-aziz, , after vizier’s death sultan had house ransacked. collection of museum considered 1 of finest in morocco, jewellery high atlas, anti atlas , extreme south; carpets haouz , high atlas; oil lamps taroudannt; blue pottery safi , green pottery tamgroute; , leatherwork marrakesh.

museum of islamic art

the museum of islamic art (musée d art islamique) blue-coloured building located in marjorelle gardens. private museum created yves saint laurent , pierre bergé in home of jacques majorelle, had art studio there. renovated, small exhibition rooms have displays of islamic artifacts , decorations including irke pottery, polychrome plates, jewellery, , antique doors.

music, theatre , dance

two types of music traditionally associated marrakesh. berber music influenced andalusian classical music , typified oud accompaniment. contrast, gnaoua music loud , funky sound reminiscent of blues. performed on handmade instruments such castanets, ribabs (three-stringed banjos) , deffs (handheld drums). gnaoua music s rhythm , crescendo take audience mood of trance; style said have emerged in marrakesh , essaouira ritual of deliverance slavery. more recently, several marrakesh female music groups have risen popularity.

the théâtre royal de marrakesh, institut français , dar chérifa major performing arts institutions in city. théâtre royal, built tunisian architect charles boccara, puts on theatrical performances of comedy, opera, , dance in french , arabic. greater number of theatrical troupes perform outdoors , entertain tourists on main square , streets, @ night. christopher hudson of daily mail noted men dressed women performed bawdy street theatre, delight of ring of onlookers of ages.

crafts

locally made hats



the market in marrakesh

the arts , crafts of marrakesh have had wide , enduring impact on moroccan handicrafts present day. riad décor used in carpets , textiles, ceramics, woodwork, metal work , zelij. carpets , textiles weaved, sewn or embroidered, used upholstering. moroccan women practice craftsmanship known maalems (expert craftspeople) , make such fine products berber carpets , shawls made of sabra (cactus silk). ceramics in monochrome berber-style only, limited tradition depicting bold forms , decorations.

wood crafts made of cedar, including riad doors , palace ceilings. orange wood used making ladles known harira (lentil soup ladles). thuya craft products made of caramel coloured thuya, conifer indigenous morocco. since species extinct, these trees being replanted , promoted artists cooperative femmes de marrakech.

metalwork made in marrakesh includes brass lamps, iron lanterns, candle holders made recycled sardine tins, , engraved brass teapots , tea trays used in traditional serving of tea. contemporary art includes sculpture , figurative paintings. blue veiled tuareg figurines , calligraphy paintings popular.

festivals

festivals, both national , islamic, celebrated in marrakesh , throughout country, , of them observed national holidays. cultural festivals of note held in marrakesh include national folklore festival, marrakech festival of popular arts (in variety of famous moroccan musicians , artists participate), , berber festival. international film festival of marrakech, aspires north african version of cannes film festival, established in 2001. festival, showcases on 100 films around world annually, has attracted hollywood stars such martin scorsese, francis ford coppola, susan sarandon, jeremy irons, roman polanski , many european, arabic , indian film stars. marrakech bienniale established in 2004 vanessa branson cultural festival in various disciplines, including visual arts, cinema, video, literature, performing arts, , architecture.

cuisine

surrounded lemon, orange, , olive groves, city s culinary characteristics rich , heavily spiced not hot, using various preparations of ras el hanout (which means head of shop ), blend of dozens of spices include ash berries, chilli, cinnamon, grains of paradise, monk’s pepper, nutmeg, , turmeric. specialty of city , symbol of cuisine tanjia marrakshia local tajine prepared beef meat, spices , smen , slow-cooked in traditional oven in hot ashes. tajines can prepared chicken, lamb, beef or fish, adding fruit, olives , preserved lemon, vegetables , spices, including cumin, peppers, saffron, turmeric, , ras el hanout. meal prepared in tajine pot , slow-cooked steam. version of tajine includes vegetables , chickpeas seasoned flower petals. tajines may basted smen moroccan ghee has flavour similar blue cheese.

shrimp, chicken , lemon-filled briouats traditional specialty of marrakesh. rice cooked saffron, raisins, spices, , almonds, while couscous may have added vegetables. pastilla filo-wrapped pie stuffed minced chicken or pigeon has been prepared almonds, cinnamon, spices , sugar. harira soup in marrakesh typically includes lamb blend of chickpeas, lentils, vermicelli, , tomato paste, seasoned coriander, spices , parsley. kefta (mince meat), liver in crépinette, merguez , tripe stew commonly sold @ stalls of jemaa el-fnaa.

the desserts of marrakesh include chebakia (sesame spice cookies prepared , served during ramadan), tartlets of filo dough dried fruit, or cheesecake dates.

the moroccan tea culture practiced in marrakesh; green tea mint served sugar curved teapot spout small glasses. popular non-alcoholic drink orange juice. under almoravids, alcohol consumption common; historically, hundreds of jews produced , sold alcohol in city. in present day, alcohol sold in hotel bars , restaurants.