P402 - Morocco - Place Jamaa El Fna in Marrakech

CPlace Jamaa El Fna, Marrakech, Morocco

Djemaa el Fna is a square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter (old city). The origin of its name remains unknown: it means Assembly of the dead in Arabic, but as the word djemaa also means mosque in Arabic, it could also mean place of the vanished mosque, in reference to a destroyed Almoravid mosque.

The place remains the main square of Marrakesh, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.

马拉喀什位于摩洛哥西南部，坐落在贯穿摩洛哥的阿特拉斯山脚下，有“南方的珍珠”之称。马拉喀什是柏柏爾语，意思是“上帝的故乡”。

马拉喀什有摩洛哥最大的柏柏爾人市场（露天市场）。也有整个非洲最繁忙的广场。马拉喀什的皮革業很有名。

References sources : wikipedia