Blog #3.15 Discovering Taroudant

Often called "Little Marrakech," this beautiful city shares many similarities with its more famous counterpart. One of the most impressive features of Taroudant is its wall, the third largest in the world, which once played an important role in defending the city, particularly against the Portuguese. We also walked through the castle, guided by the knowledgeable Eunice. We learned about the clever defensive systems which include three doors to control access and ventilation holes in the wall. 

The walled city of Taroudant (photo by Diane Martinez-Gomez)

We visited Yunus's grandmother's house, which was historically significant as it showed us a glimpse of the past. This traditional Moroccan house has unique architectural features like large gaps in the ceiling to prevent horses from walking on top. It also stays cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Among these historical houses, we also learned about a princess, famous in France, who resides here.

Ethnographic Field School Team 2024 with Yunus, our guide in Taroudant (photo by Foundation Dar Si Hmad)

No visit to Taroudant is complete without exploring the Grand Souk, described by Yunus as “a treasure chest.” The souk is a busy marketplace where artisans handcraft traditional items such as shoes and traditional Amazigh silver jewelry. The city is particularly known for its leather goods, making the souk a great place for shoppers seeking unique, handcrafted treasures.

Shoe shop in Taroudant souk (photo by Diane Martinez-Gomez)

Group Dinner at Riad Naima in Taroudant

-By Diane Martinez-Gomez, UC-Merced Engineering undergraduate student