Saadian Tombs vs Mellah
Both Saadian Tombs and Mellah are highly recommended by writers. Overall, Saadian Tombs ranks significantly better than Mellah. Saadian Tombs comes in at #3 in Marrakech with endorsements from 6 reviewers like Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure and Concierge.
Saadian Tombs
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Next to Kasbah Mosque, off rue de la Kasbah, Marrakech, Morocco
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Fodor's
"This small, beautiful 16th-century burial ground is the permanent resting place of 166 Saadians, including its creator, Sultan Ahmed el Mansour, the Golden One."
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i
Get here either early or late to avoid the crowds and to see the monuments swathed in soft golden light of a restful sun.
Concierge
"Used by various dynasties for more than 200 years, the beautifully restored site numbers more than 60 pagoda-shaped marble sarcophagi housed in two mausoleums."
Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour ed-Dahbi spared no expense on his tomb, importing Italian Carrara marble and gilding honeycomb muqarnas (decorative plasterwork) with pure gold."
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Michelin Guide
3 Stars
"1917 the existence of the tombs was accidentally rediscovered. An access corridor was then cut through the walls to enable non-Muslims to see them."
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Travel + Leisure
"Unfortunately, some of the tombs are in ruins but they are nonetheless very worth visiting. Bottom line: macabre but stylish."
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Mellah
Marrakech, Morocco
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Fodor's
"As in other Moroccan cities, the Mellah is the old Jewish quarter, once a small, walled-off city within the city."
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Frommer's
"The present Mellah, renamed Hay Essalam, is much smaller and almost entirely Muslim."
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Lonely Planet
"The mellah remains notable for tall mudbrick homes along single-file streets and cross-alley gossip through wrought-iron balconies."
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i
To see the living legacy of Mellah artisans and spice traders, check out the Place des Ferblantiers, the Grand Bijouterie and the Mellah Market .
Travel + Leisure
"In addition to the area’s historical importance, you’ll find a good variety of shops here. This is where I go to buy fabrics and beautiful trims and notions."
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Travel + Leisure
"You can admire the souks and the Alzama Synagogue in the central courtyard while enjoying a cup of Berber tea. "
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