Bahia Palace

The exact dates of the construction of the palace are unknown ^[1] . It was built in two stages. Between 1859 and 1867, the northern part of the palace was built on the order of the former slave Si Moussa, the great vizier of the Sultan of Morocco Mohammed IV, in the southeastern part of the medina of Marrakesh.

Between 1894 and 1900, Ba Ahmed, the son of Si Moussa, who, after his death, became the great vizier of Sultan Abd al-Aziz IV , carried out the second phase of construction, expanding the southern part of the palace complex. Ba Ahmed was very rich and powerful, which the Sultan did not like ^[2] , and immediately after the death of the Vizier in 1900, the palace was looted ^{[2] [2]} . After 12 years, the French resident general Marshal Lyote , who ruled the French colony of Morocco , rebuilt the palace and made it his residence in Marrakech.

The building is currently open to visitors. It hosts concerts of Arabic-Andalusian music and art exhibitions.

After the start of construction, more and more new neighborhoods were acquired in the neighborhood, as a result of which the palace complex was built in stages and lost a clear layout. On the territory of the complex, which occupies almost 8 hectares, there are fountains and a garden with cypresses , jasmine , orange and banana trees, a stable, a mosque and a hammam .

The rooms of the palace are generously decorated with marble , ceramic tiles, zilidges and cedar . These materials were brought from all over North Africa ^[1] . Marble was brought from Meknes , where it most likely came from Carrara , and may have adorned the palace of Moulay Ismail or the palace of El Badi . Cedar was brought from the Middle Atlas , and terracotta from Tetuan .

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  Patio

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  Wall decor

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  Wall decor

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  Wall decor

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  Ceiling decor

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  Ceiling decor