Marrakech - The Palace of Brilliance

  Marrakech - The Palace of Brilliance  

I had the pleasure of visiting Palais Bahia (The Palace of Brilliance) on a sunny afternoon. The sun was blazing and what better time is there to take refuge around the palace grounds.   

A Grand History




Bahia Palace was built by Si Moussa in the 19th Century and covers over 2 acres of land. The palace can be found in the southern-east of the medina. If you’re able to navigate the meandering streets of the souks you’ll be able to make it here eventually.  

Si Moussa was the Grand Vizier of the Sultan and this palace was built for him. It’s known that he rose the ranks in power as a former slave to eventually serve the Sultan (similar to a prime minister or other chief of authority). His son would later take residence at this palace and was responsible for its expansion and renovations.

Unfortunately after the death of his son Ba Ahmed (1900), the palace was pillaged for all it’s worth. Despite this, the palace still stands today and is an exquisite attraction to visit.  





As you enter through the towering palace gates, a walkway presents itself with refreshing greenery, Date trees and citrus fruit. You can buy some refreshments here. There is a small token fee to get into the Palace Grounds and you can hire a guide if needed.    

The Meaning of Brilliance





Upon entering the grounds you are greeted by a small courtyard garden which leads into this mosaic masterpiece. The sun bounces of each tile and the water features spout gently with a smooth trickle.  

The coloured glass panes get their share of sunlight in the day and light up the palace in a brilliant spectrum of colour. This really stood out to me and gave the cool white / blue / green colours structures a warmer character.  



The coloured panes illuminated the entrance to the other areas. A touch of modern utility and varying architecture can be seen due to the mentioned renovations and residence of French officers during the 1900s.



 



Inside the halls fireplaces, décor and carved facades can be observed. The colours, style and form of the ceilings are very different in design. This could be due to the change in architecture as new areas were renovated or built.





With our tour around the palace coming to a close, I took notice to the different designs used on each water feature. While some were used as standalone features around entrances, other areas were built around these small structures. The symmetrical design of the surrounding building, flooring and complex mosaics drew attention to the centre of the room.  

I highly recommend a brief visit to Palais Bahia to those travelling around Marrakech. It’s a welcome break from the busy streets of the Medina. Getting a tour guide is probably for the better if you have not read up on its history.
 
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Thanks for reading : )

Momosan