Marrakech, Morocco
Synagogue in Marrakesh, Morocco
The Slat al-Azama Synagogue, in the historic Mellah of Marrakech south-east of the medina near the Bahia Palace, is by local tradition the oldest synagogue in the city. Its founding is traditionally dated to 1492, when Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain reached Morocco, although the Mellah itself was only laid out in 1557 and the present building reflects 20th-century restorations. Like most synagogues in Moroccan mellahs, it is part of a courtyard house in riad style: an open court tiled in blue and white zellij, the prayer hall with its carved woodwork, and a study hall upstairs. A women's gallery was added in the 1950s, an unusual change in Morocco. The building now also holds an exhibition of photographs and documents on the history of Moroccan Jews, including their old communities in Atlas villages. It is a witness to centuries of shared life in Marrakech, is looked after by a local Muslim family, and was repaired after the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake damaged the quarter. It is a natural stop on any walk through the Mellah's heritage.
It is a working place of worship, so dress modestly and keep your voice down; it is closed on Saturdays. Thirty minutes is enough. Combine it with a walk through the Mellah lanes, the nearby spice market and the old cemetery, then the Bahia Palace a few minutes away.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
No reviews yet
Share your experience and help other travellers decide.
ParkMarrakech, Morocco
