Ryad Marakech

Saadian Tombs

Les_Tombeaux_Saadien_Ali_Ben_Youssef_01_Marrakch (1)

The tombs date back to the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur al-Dahabi (1578-1603). The graves were discovered only recently, in 1917, and have been restored by the Moroccan Ministry of Fine Arts. The tombs are a major tourist attraction of Marrakesh, thanks to the beauty of their decorations.

The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members delladinastia Sa’diana native to the valley of the Draa River. Among the graves are those of Ahmad al-Mansur al-Dahabi and his family. The construction is composed of three rooms. The most famous is the room of the twelve columns. This room contains the tomb of the grandson of sultanoAhmad al-Mansur al-Dhahabi. The stele is finely carved in cedar wood and stucco. All monuments are of Carrara marble.

In the garden outside the building they are located the graves of soldiers and servants.

Text credit: Wikipedia
Photo credit: By Viault (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons