The capital of the Moroccan Kingdom is
Marrakech, sometimes known as Marrakesh. It is one of Morocco's four imperial
cities and the administrative centre of the Marrakesh-Safi region. West of the
Atlas Mountain foothills is where the city is located. Marrakesh is located 580
kilometres (360 mi) southwest of Tangier, 327 kilometres (203 mi) southwest of
Rabat, 239 kilometres (149 mi) south of Casablanca, and 246 kilometres (153 mi)
northeast of Agadir.
Since the Neolithic era, the area has been
populated by Berber farmers. As the imperial capital of the Almoravid Empire,
the city was established in 1070 by Emir Abu Bakr ibn Umar. The first
significant buildings in the city were built by the Almoravids, who also
influenced its layout for many years. The city's red walls, built by Ali ibn
Yusuf in 1122–1123, and subsequent buildings made of red sandstone have earned
it the moniker "Red City" (Almanadinat alhamra') or "Ochre
City" (ville ocre). Marrakesh expanded fast, becoming a major economic,
cultural, and religious hub for the whole Maghreb and most of sub-Saharan
Africa. The most crowded square in Africa is Jemaa el-Fnaa.
An old fortified city full of merchants and
their stalls makes up Marrakesh. The historic district of this medina has been
designated a World Heritage Site. It is now a major economic hub and tourist
attraction, making it one of Africa's busiest cities.