Morocco: Marrakesh – Jemma El Fna

Jemma El Fna (“Assembly Place of Nobodies”) is the main square in the Marrakech’s medina – that’s where all the action happens day and night. Framed on one side by the 1162-built ancient Koutoubia Mosque with a 70m high minaret, and a myriad of souqs on the other side – Jemma El Fna is a wide-open space filled with sellers, traders, buyers, shops, restaurants, performers, and much more. The action changes during the day – in the morning the square is filled with fresh juice seller, later shake charmers come and try to con you out of your money, and as the night falls, massive stalls of traditional food appear, while the dancers and storytellers take up the open space. One can watch all this from various vantage points from the surrounding terraces or go deep into all the action and participate. It’s a visual, cultural, and taste experience.