French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was smitten with
Morocco from his first visit in 1966. Cementing his connection to
the city, Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened in 2017 next door to
Jardin Majorelle – Saint Laurent’s second home – as an homage to
YSL’s life and 40 years of creative work. Designed by Studio KO,
the terracotta facade guards the designer’s sketches, haute couture
fashions – including the famed peacoat and Mondrian dress – and
accessories, in addition to a 150-seat auditorium, research
library, bookstore and terrace café.

It’s not the best-kept secret in the city, but Le Jardin Secret
remains a worthwhile pit stop. The riad-museum dates back to the
16th century and the complex comprises two bountiful gardens: one
is an exotic marvel; the other, a traditional Islamic display.
Intended as a centre for sharing knowledge and the latest research
on Moroccan and Islamic gardens, the property is also home to a
rooftop café offering gloriously verdant views.

El Badi’s crumbly majesty precedes it. Plans for this palace –
constructed by sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in the 16th century – were
grandiose, right down to the gold, turquoise and crystal paving,
but its destruction in the 18th century and ensuing pillage left it
a shell of its former self. Today, there’s a stripped-back elegance
to the ruined edifice – all bare rock, fragments of fallen pillars
and rooms left wide open to the cerulean sky. Explore its expansive
courtyard, sunken gardens and reflecting pools, all of which are
surveyed by nesting storks.

Away from the main fray, on the outskirts of the city, you’ll
find the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL).
Worth the taxi ride, the independent, not-for-profit museum is
dedicated to contemporary African art, with works on display
presented across a diverse range of media. In addition to the
permanent collection, regular exhibitions focus on art that engages
in a dialogue with the continent, showcasing works by local and
international artists.