Come here for a spot of tranquility away from the bustle of the city; the entrance is tucked away behind Kasbah Mosque, and admission is only 10 dirhams - around €1.
The Saadian Tombs are the burial site of around sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty, who ruled Morocco from 1554 to 1659. Discovered in 1917, the tombs’ beauty has made them a top attraction among the many beautiful historic sites of Marrakech’s Medina.
Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, the regent at the time, is buried here along with his family in spectacular fashion. The royal tomb of his grandson, containing twelve columns, is particularly lavish. Throughout, the cedarwood funerary steles are stunning, carved with almost impossibly intricate designs; the grave monuments are fashioned from Carrara marble imported from Italy. The delicate mosaic tiles of the floor and wall are similarly beautiful - although some of the graves of non-royals have become somewhat dilapidated - and elaborate stucco work further enhances the monumental decoration.
The tombs are not signposted, so try to find a guided tour if you want to learn more about their history. There are some interesting arrangements here: several trusted Jewish advisors, for example, are buried closer to the king than his own wives and children. The tombs were walled up by the Alawite Sultan Moulay Ismali in the 17th century, and were only rediscovered thanks to aerial photography nearly 300 years later.
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