The Saadian Tombs are among the most atmospheric sights in Marrakech, a compact royal necropolis dating from the late 16th century under Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian dynasty. When the succeeding Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail set about erasing his predecessors' legacy, he chose to wall the tombs off rather than destroy them, sealing the site so completely that it was effectively forgotten. It was only rediscovered in 1917, when aerial surveys revealed the enclosure, and has been open to the public since.
The centrepiece is the Hall of Twelve Columns, an exquisite chamber of Italian Carrara marble, carved cedar and honeycombed muqarnas plasterwork sheltering the tomb of the sultan's son. A second mausoleum and a garden courtyard hold the graves of some sixty Saadian family members and, in surrounding plots, servants and soldiers, many marked with colourful zellige tilework.
The site is small and reached through a narrow passage beside the Kasbah Mosque, so a single queue can back up quickly and viewing the finest chamber often means waiting your turn at a doorway. Arriving at opening avoids the worst of it. A private tour handles the medina navigation and lets your guide explain the Saadian history that gives these tombs their poignancy, then link them with the nearby El Badi Palace and Kasbah district.
Highlights
- The marble-and-cedar Hall of Twelve Columns, the finest chamber
- Intricate muqarnas plasterwork and gilded detailing
- The garden courtyard with roughly sixty tiled Saadian graves
- The remarkable story of the tombs' 1917 rediscovery
- Colourful zellige headstones throughout the enclosure
- Proximity to the Kasbah Mosque and El Badi Palace
Best Time to Visit
Arrive at the 9 am opening; the single narrow entrance means the Hall of Twelve Columns backs up with queues later in the morning.