You might wonder why I’m featuring El Badi Palace as the final post in my tribute to amazing architecture that we’ve seen on our travels. There isn’t much left of this palace in Marrakech, but when it was intact, it was an architectural marvel.
El Badi translates as “The Incomparable”, and when it was built it was breathtaking in its opulence. Commissioned by Sa’did Sharif Ahmad al-Mansur in the sixteenth century, no expense was spared. Only the finest materials were used, including Italian marble, ivory, exquisitely-carved woodwork, gold and onyx. Paths were paved in terracotta tiles, as were roofs of the surrounding pavilions. The main hall in one of the pavilions was flanked by fifty enormous columns. In the courtyard, a cluster of swimming pools was framed by four sunken orange gardens.
This was a building that should have stood forever.
But that’s not what happened. A mere century later El Badi was torn apart, plundered for its precious materials so another ruler could build his own palace.
This is what remains: a courtyard with foundations of the pavilions, and four gardens which still blossom with the scent of orange. A few denuded walls still stand, where storks have built their nests in the gaps.
This poem wasn’t inspired by El Badi, but I couldn’t help but think of it as I witnessed the ruins of this once-majestic palace:
Ozymandius
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley
Two of our friends (who we're coincidentally having dinner with tonight) went to Marrakech a few months ago + I loved hearing about their travels there. I wish we could've seen El Badi during it's height – i bet it was absolutely awe-inspiring!
what amazing and beautiful pics! is nice travel with you Beth LOL
Hopefully what's left of this beautiful palace will stay in tact!
The poem fits perfectly with your photos and descriptive words. 🙂
Wonderful poem, so fitting. I can just imagine how majestic the palace was. The ruins look beautiful and vast.
I love it, and I can definitely see why you would feature it. It's beautiful in its decay, and I can imagine how amazing it must have looked in its time. As for those oranges? So cool!
How neat that there are still orange trees there! Even as a ruin, the palace is still amazing.
This is one of the must travel to spots for me – thanks for the inspiration!!
love your travel post and fun to imagine how things were in their prime
Very fitting poem, Beth. Such a shame beauty like that is lost, but wonderful to stand there amid the orange trees and imagine.
I've loved seeing all this architecture – I love the vision of what this must have been in all its glory.
Gosh, this must have been spectacular in its day…even the framework is impressive. Have a great weekend, Beth.
Wonderful post!
Stunning location and scenery my friend 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love reading these posts on historical architecture! Beautiful photos (that orange one makes me want to visit an orange grove) and a beautiful poem.
the only reason i know marrakech exists is because of crosby, stills, and nash. 🙂 incidentally, i'm thinking of naming my firstborn son ozymandius. 🙂
Dear Beth, I love history and imagining the life that was.
Thank you for introducing me to this palace and stirring my imagination.
Blessings dear for a lovely weekend. Catherine xo
How interesting, funny how it's true that earthly treasures don't last 🙂 I bet this was still amazing to see.
So sad that not more of it remains. Truly a shame. But at least part of it still stands for us to admire through your great photos.
We stayed in a lovely Riad right across from one of the still standing walls last November; it was quite an experience.
Nice article and great knowledge. Thanks for the share. I love this story and enjoy with your words!
red onyx tile