The medieval charm of Marrakech

Walking around the winding, bustling medieval lanes of the old Medina of Marrakech is like stepping back in time, finds Natasha Langan.

Arriving in the old Medina of Marrakech, and walking around the winding, bustling medieval lanes, is like stepping back in time. The famous central square, Djemaa el Fna, with its snake charmers, acrobats and food stalls, is a real draw for tourists and locals alike. And at dusk it comes into its own, with groups of traditional storytellers surrounded by large crowds who join in and argue, and people gathered around one of the many food stalls for dinner or cake with mint tea.

By day, the main attraction in Marrakech is the souks, where you can stock up on carpets, slippers, pottery, jewellery and leather goods, among much else and all for very little if you're a skilled haggler. Don't be surprised if you get lost as you attempt to navigate your way around the lanes just keep an eye out for the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, with its iconic Moorish minaret, which will help guide you back to the main square. Within the old Jewish Quarter of the Medina you will find the spice markets, where the smells of amber, cinnamon and the famous spice blend of Ras el Hanout mingle with that of the donkeys that ferry carts around the narrow alleyways.

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Natasha read politics at Sussex University. She then spent a decade in social care, before completing a postgraduate course in Health Promotion at Brighton University. She went on to be a freelance health researcher and sexual health trainer for both the local council and Terrence Higgins Trust.

In 2000 Natasha began working as a freelance journalist for both the Daily Express and the Daily Mail; then as a freelance writer for MoneyWeek magazine when it was first set up, writing the property pages and the “Spending It” section. She eventually rose to become the magazine’s picture editor, although she continues to write the property pages and the occasional travel article.