Rahba Kedima

Mouassine & Central Souqs


The French name, Place des Épices, for this hopping little plaza derives from its high concentration of apothecaries who sell mysterious supplies to locals, and spice mixtures and traditional cosmetics to tourists. Not all of them are high quality – we recommend Apothicaire Tuareg. The middle of the square is home to stalls selling Amazigh hats and woven baskets, but the shops around its edges have recently become a hot bed for high-end local designers. There are lots of cafes here as well.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mouassine & Central Souqs attractions

1. Creiee Berbere

0.01 MILES

On the north side of Rahba Kedima, look for the archway with 'Le Souk Principal de Tapis' written above the door. Inside it's packed to the rafters with…

2. Heritage Museum

0.06 MILES

The Alouani Bibi family have thrown open the doors of this old riad to display their eclectic and fascinating collection of Moroccan artefacts. From…

3. Musée de Mouassine

0.11 MILES

While house-hunting in the medina, Parisian Patrick Menac'h stumbled across a historic treasure of great cultural significance. Beneath the layers of…

4. Musée Boucharouite

0.12 MILES

Berber boucharouites (rag rugs made from recycled cloth) may be a poor cousin to the famous jewel-toned Moroccan carpets, but this beautifully collated…

5. Mouassine Fountain

0.14 MILES

The medina had 80 fountains at the start of the 20th century; each neighbourhood had its own, providing water for cooking, public baths, orchards and…

6. Souq des Teinturiers

0.15 MILES

The dyers souq is one of Marrakesh's most colourful markets, with skeins of coloured wool draped from the rafters above stalls. However, very little…

7. Almoravid Koubba

0.18 MILES

The Almohads destroyed almost everything their Almoravid predecessors built in Marrakesh but overlooked this graceful 12th-century koubba (shrine) across…

8. Le Jardin Secret

0.19 MILES

The foundations of this historic riad are more than 400 years old, and it was once owned by powerful qaid (local chief) U-Bihi. Here, though, it's not the…