The 5 Best Museums to Visit in Morocco in 2019
Located on the North-west tip of Africa, Morrocco is celebrated around the globe for its natural beauty and artistic lineage. A cultural crossroad, Moroccan art and architecture blend Berber, Arabic and European influences into a distinct style. The country, which has been a haven for young bohemians as well as European and African elite, continues to attract visitors. If you plan to visit Morocco soon, make sure to stop by one of the following awe-inspiring museums.
The Jardin Majorelle
Algerian-born French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent gifted Jardin Majorelle to the city of Marrakech in 1966. The electric-blue villa and its garden to draw from the vision of its creator, French landscape painter Jacques Majorelle. The space has been cultivated since 1924 and compliments the natural Moroccan color palette. More than 300 plant species from five continents are preserved in Jardin Majorelle.
Musée Yves Saint Laurent - Marrakech
Marrakesh, Morocco
Located next to Jardin Majorelle, Musee Yves Saint Laurent pays homage to the famed namesake designer. The museum is housed in a specially constructed building with a textured brickwork exterior that mimics the forms and feminine appeal he designer showcased in his designs. The doors of the museum open to an exhibition of photographs and artworks and then lead to a separate display focused on fashion design. The main exhibition space features prototypes from some of YSL’s most famous designs. Visitors can also enjoy a film about Saint Laurent and his work, a library, bookshop, and café.
Musée Tiskiwin
Marrakech has served as a desert trading post for Timbuktu, Mali, and Ghana throughout history. Musée Tiskiwin documents the city’s trans-Saharan caravan trade across millennia and the influence neighboring civilizations have had on local culture. The museum began as the private collection of Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint, who has spent his life studying Marrakech’s connection to West Africa. The museum is now open to the public and contains a collection that includes camel saddles, tents, sculptures, costumes and adornments illustrating the trade, desert life and Marrakech’s West African connections.
Dar Si Said
Dar Si Said is a monument to Moroccan master artisans and was once the residence of grand vizier and de facto ruler of Morocco, Bou Ahmed's brother Si Said (1894-1900). The building now contains the Museum of Moroccan Arts, which boasts a stunning collection of granary doors, Tuareg leather bags, ceramics, embroidery, carpets, weaponry, and Berber jewelry within its salons. One of the most significant features of the building is its painted and domed wedding-reception chamber which includes flower-painted musicians' balconies, a nod to artists from Fez.
Maison de la Photographie
At the Maison de la Photographie, dynamic images of Moroccan life taken between 1870 and 1960 line grand hallways. Housing more than 4,500 shots, many printed from glass negatives made by leaders of Moroccan photography, the museum rotates exhibitions regularly to give visitors a chance to view their massive collection. The museum is careful to share both shots of contemporary city centers and rural life.
Writer - Amber Nicole Alston
Amber Nicole Alston is a New York-based beauty and culture writer. Her work frames urban life, fashion, and beauty around specific histories and cultures. In addition to writing, Amber also styles and conceptualizes fashion shoots.