Djemaa El Fna
Djemaa El Fna is Marrakesh’s main square, its name translates to ‘assembly of the dead’, as a result of the many public executions held there centuries ago. This dazzling site will blow your mind and ignite your senses wherever you look. With snake-charmers dancing to the tune of flutes, slapstick comedy acts, street theatres known as hoopla and halqa, enthusiastic henna tattoo artists, restaurants with fired up grills, exotic spice sellers, storytellers, and musicians whose craft have been handed down from one generation to the next since the 11th century. Djemaa feels like stepping into a carnival and a bazaar at the same time.
The place is fun and engaging during the day with its water-sellers clanging brass cups together in an ancient rhythm, dressed up monkeys, and the many communal games, but at night everything seems to come to life in a mysterious way. Cars are not allowed after 2 pm, night markets with colourful stalls and restaurants seem to pop up from every corner of the plaza. Visitors from around the world delight in the display of local spices, traditional medicines, and street food. Djemaa el-Fna is a must-see not only in Marrakesh but in Morocco as well.
