Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Marrakesh, Day 3: Madersa Ben Youssef

The Ali ben Youssef Medersa was built in the 1560s as a school for Quranic learning.  The complex of buildings served primarily as a residence hall for the students, since the courses were all taught in the adjoining mosque.  It provides some exquisite examples of the architectural and decorative elements we saw yesterday at the 19th century Bahia Palace.

Principal courtyard





Alcove in the prayer room

Going upstairs to the students' rooms
Looking across a mini-courtyard

Another mini-courtyard
Corridor past the students' rooms

Doorways to the students' rooms

More students' rooms

Country Mouse
(furnishings that a rural student might have had)

City Mouse
(furnishing that an urban student might have had)


Looking up from one of the mini-courtyards

No comments: