My favourite place: Marrakech, Morocco
In the January 2018 issue of BBC History Magazine, Sarah Crook selects Marrakech, Morocco, as her favourite place. History Extra caught up with her to find out more...
When did you last travel to Marrakech and why were you there?
With just a few weeks to go before my doctoral thesis was due to be submitted last year I took myself off to Morocco to do final edits in the autumn sunshine. It worked, and the steady supply of mint tea was immensely cheering.
Why do you love the location?
I find Marrakech energizing and inspiring. The food is delicious and the city is beautiful and has a fascinating history. It’s also easy to explore on foot, which makes it a lovely place to spend a few days
What top 3 sights would you recommend people visit there, and why?
Explore the souks, and come back laden with brightly coloured delights; visit the Saadian Tombs, and admire the mosaics. Ponder the photography at Maison de la Photographie, which will give you a different view of recent Moroccan history.
During what period of its history would you most wanted to have visited Marrakech and why?
The Saadians developed some of the most beautiful sites in Marrakech, and it would have been amazing to have seen these in their full glory.
Where else in the world would you most like to visit and why?
My next trip is likely to be to New York, which has a fabulous and exciting archive of zines (homemade magazines often distributed by their creators), which I can’t wait to look at for my next article.
Sarah Crook is junior fellow in history at New College, Oxford
You can read more about Sarah's experiences in Marrakech in the January issue of BBC History Magazine – on sale now.
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