Virtuoso Life - November/December 2007 - (Page 48) DESIGN TOUR ktkt kt tk tk tkt ktk tkt ktktk tktk tk tktkt. Desert Metropolis From ancient souks to Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech. BY MIchaEL WEBB True blue: The Jardin Majorelle, once home to painter Jacques Majorelle, was restored under the guidance of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. 48 V I RT U O S O L I F E EyE UbiqUitoUs/ CoRbis P alm groves embrace the ocher walls that encircle the ancient city of marrakech, and a labyrinth of narrow lanes feeds into a central marketplace. the site is flat, the buildings low, and the snowcapped peaks of the high atlas provide a dramatic backdrop to the south. Founded in 1062 by a sahara chieftain, Youssef ben tachfine, marrakech was plundered and enriched by a succession of rulers whose empire once extended into spain. In the twentieth century, French colonists laid out a new city away from the old but occupied it for only a few decades before the coming of independence in 1956. the beauty of the setting, abundant sun, and a rich cultural heritage make this desert oasis a splendid winter getaway. architecture is reason enough to come, but you can also ski in the morning and lie beside the pool of a luxury hotel in the afternoon. a good guide is a must – to provide an insider’s view of the old city and to fend off unwanted solicitations. here are ten sights you shouldn’t miss; all but the two gardens are in the walled old city.
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