Mederssa Ben Youssef, Marrakesh

When we visited the medersas in Fes and Meknes we were the only visitors, which allowed us to appreciate the quietness of these schools of learning. The Ali ben Youssef medersa in Marrakech is, in contrast, very much on the tourist trail and it was a little disappointing in that respect. Despite the crowds, it was well worth visiting. One of the reasons for the large number of visitors is that this medersa is among the largest n North Africa. Also, it is slightly different in design to other medersas in Morocco, with some rooms facing on to numerous smaller courtyard rather than on to the main courtyard.

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A Medresa is a Koran school. This one is said to be the largest one in Maghreb and was estabilished in the heart of Marrakesh in the 14° century and has been almost completely rebuilt 200 years later.
Its more beautiful part is the courtyard, where you can see the influence of the Spanish Moorish Art: intricate forms and styles of decoration are all around: stuccos, marble, mosaic and nice woodworks.
On the second floor, a gallery leads to the student's rooms and at the end of the court there is the old prayer room.

You will see postcards around Marrakech of the series of Moorish arches spanning a narrow street. They mark the entrance to Medersa Ali ben Youssef. It lies at the very northern edge of the souq area, next door to the Ali ben Youssef Mosque.

The Medersa was once a great college of theology and religious law. Our Moroccan guide told us that it was part of the oldest university in the world, dating from the 9th century. You can believe this if you want! The present building was constructed in 1565, and Marrakech was apparently founded in 1062. Islam had spread across the whole of North Africa by the 7th century, so maybe the guide was right.

Medersa Ali ben Youssef surrounds a grand courtyard. Very tranquil, very cool, with a shallow stone pool. The lower walls are decorated with mosaic, showing the many different stars of the Islamic religion. The upper walls are covered with intricate stucco work. The roof is made of carved cedar wood.

The upper floors that look out over the courtyard are filled with dozens of tiny cells, to house the students. You can go into almost all of them. A few are furnished.

There is a small shop selling postcards and souvenirs. The entrance fee is very cheap, I can't remember exactly how much - we visited as part of a wider tour of the old city!

This is the oldest mosque in Marrakech and, like most of the others, non-believers aren't allowed in. But it's still worth a look, especially as it's right next to the museum and the medersa. It was built in the 12th century, although I think it's been 'updated' a few times since.

This was the largest theological college in the entire Mahgreb, hosting up to a thousand students at a time. Built by the Saadians in the 16th century, it's pretty much intact although it did undergo some 1960's renovations. Thankfully, Moroccan 60's designers didn't have the same ideas as those in Britain so there's no grey concrete in sight!

There's a beautiful huge courtyard in the centre, complete with tiled pool and Qu'ranic verses intricately carved into the walls and pillars. The student 'cells' have their own mini-courtyards surrounding the main centre and you're free to wander around. If you've read my other tips you'll know that I find these old buildings extraordinarily beautiful and relaxing - and this is one of the best.

Ali ben Youssef was a 12th century Almoravid sultan and he obviously made a big impression as there's also a mosque named after him.

Built in the 16th century, this complex housed a school/university and contains classrooms, galleries, and dormitory rooms set around its courtyards. Much of the architecture here reminded me of the Alhambra in Spain, which was constructed around the same time. The carving around doorways, columns, and upper walls is spectacular.

The students rooms of Merdessa Ben Youssef are so simple but so beautiful ... there are few types. The ones that have a window to the patio, that where soupouse to be for the more rich students, the others with no windows and otheres with windows to the street. They used to be for two students each, and use to have doors with wooden little windows ... so beautiful ...

This merdessa (coran school) is not one of the most beautifuls and wonderfuls, but also the bigest merdessa of the magreb, with capacity for more than 900 students. It have a great pation at the center with a fountain where the students used to studie. Upstairs you have the students rooms.