Doors 331 – Doors of the Saadian Tombs, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part XI).
On arrival at our Riad Hotel in the Medina, the staff were very keen to point out all the ‘must visit’ places which we could visit during our stay. The closest, perhaps a ten-minute walk, was the Saadian Tombs.
My apologies to you all, but I have resorted to the Interweb to provide a short description of the Saadian Tombs:
The Saadian Tombs are one of the city’s most remarkable historical monuments, reflecting the grandeur of the Saadian dynasty that ruled from 1549 to 1659. Hidden for centuries and rediscovered in 1917, the tombs were built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur to house members of the royal family and his successors. The complex is renowned for its exquisite Islamic architecture, blending Andalusian and Moroccan styles.
Its chambers are adorned with intricate stucco work, colourful zellij tile mosaics, finely carved cedar wood ceilings, and marble columns imported from Italy. The most famous section, the Hall of the Twelve Columns, features the sultan’s own tomb surrounded by others, symbolizing both royal power and the Saadian dynasty’s devotion to artistry and craftsmanship. Today, the tombs stand as a beautifully preserved testament to Morocco’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.
The rooms of the tombs were not accessible and many of the photographs were taken standing at the entrances, leaning into the rooms. It is definitely a fascinating site and worth putting on your itinerary if you happen to be visiting Marrakesh. I hope you enjoy the doors and architecture:
There was a rather nice ambience in the Saadian Tombs, and as it was early in the year, there weren’t too many tourists and not much queuing at all. Next time I’ll share some more of the bustling streets and souks. Have a great weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Natural adventures 
Wonderful
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You have a treat in store.
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I know
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I love those jagged looking arches (I’m sure there’s a better term for that style), and the photo of the Chamber of the Twelve Columns is amazing. The details in the tiled walls and ceiling arches are equally amazing. I’m trying to imagine working on those ceiling features.
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Dedication, talent and time.
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Great photos, Stephen. You did a great job capturing the rooms in light of the limited access you had available.
Love the Chamber of the Twelve Columns and your great photos. You captured the light sources in such a wonderful way…magical!
The ceiling over the Chamber of the Mihrab is amazing and so detailed. I cannot fathom the amount of work it took to accomplish. Superb!
Thanks for the tile closeup too, it give amazing perspective into the patterns (which, to me look totally different from a distance… way cool).
I am thoroughly enjoying this virtual visit to Marrakesh, Stephen! Thank you. Cheers.
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Thank you Suzette. About six more selections to go, I think.
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Most excellent!
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Beautiful architecture. Lovely to visit your post.
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Thank you, You are very welcome.
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Terrific collection
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Thank you.
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Thank you. All this is totally new to me. Beautiful and fascinating.
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Thank you. It is a fascinating city.
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Tilework is so gorgeous!!
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It is so intricate.
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