RABAT (Dispatches) --
Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mehdi Bensaid has proclaimed Marrakech as the Islamic world’s cultural capital for 2024.
Bensaid made the statement at the closing ceremony of the event “Rabat Culture Capital in the Islamic World 2022,” which was organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
Marrakech’s designation as a cultural capital serves as an opportunity to showcase the red city’s historical civilization and rich culture, reflected in its Andalusian architecture and the Islamic architecture of mosques and palaces.
The designation will also be an opportunity to highlight the tourist attractions of the city, its intangible heritage, and its archaeological sites.
UNESCO listed the Medina of Marrakech as a World Heritage Site in 1985 for its monuments and architectural jewels.
The Red City boasts a number of impressive monuments such as the Kasbah, Koutoubia Mosque, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Saadian Tombs, and Jamaa El Fna Square, which has become a symbol of the city since its foundation.
Considered by many as the heart of Moroccan tourism, Marrakech is no stranger to international recognition. The red city was recently voted the eighth-best city for tourists in TripAdvisor’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations for 2023.
Marrakech also featured on Vogue’s list of “best winter sun” destinations in 2023.
Prior to Marrakech, ICESCO named Rabat the Islamic world’s cultural capital for 2022.