The Saadian Tombs are D to the O to the P to the E! Considered to be the pinnacle of Islamic architectural splendor during the Saadian Era, rivaling the beauty of the tombs of the pharaohs, and utilizing a mathematical symmetry that would make Pythagoras blush, these tombs are not to be missed when visiting Marrakech.

The Saadian Tombs consist of five separate mausoleums, two ornate loggias (covered exterior galleries), and a large garden where royalty of the later Alawi dynasty are buried. The mausoleums include: the Chamber of the Twelve Columns, the Chamber of Three Niches, the Chamber of Lalla Mas’uda, the Grand Chamber, and the Chamber of the Mihrab.

The first iteration of the tombs was built by the second Saadian sultan, Moulay Abdallah al-Ghalib. This was a section added to the adjacent Kasbah Mosque and is flanked on either side by heavily decorated loggias.

The mausoleum was built in honor of al-Ghalib’s father, Muhammad al-Shaykh, the founder of the Saadian dynasty. Al-Shaykh was assassinated by order of Beylerbey (Lord of Lords) Hassan Pasha, who was the ruler of Algiers under the Ottoman Empire. This is of particular note, as it was the Saadian Empire that stopped the Ottoman Empire from spreading further into West Africa and possibly into Spain.

Both Moulay Abdallah al-Ghalib and his father Muhammad al-Shaykh are buried in this section of the tombs, called the Grand Chamber.

It was under the direction of Ahmad al-Mansur, the sixth Saadian sultan, that the Grand Chamber was expanded to house al-Mansur’s mother, Lalla Mas’uda. Known as the Phoenix of the Sahara, Lalla took great pride in helping the poor communities in Morocco, expanding infrastructure into rural areas and providing access to water and healthcare. She lies in her own chamber, called the Chamber of Lalla Mas’uda, connected to the Grand Chamber.

After Lalla Mas’uda’s entombment, Ahmad al-Mansur set to work on his own space inside the complex, designing three chambers side by side: the Chamber of the Mihrab (prayer room), Chamber of Twelve Columns, and the Chamber of Three Niches. His resting place, the Chamber of Twelve Columns, is arguably the magnum opus of Saadian architecture and is now the resting place of four sultans.

This part of the tomb is where you will find the line. I would bring sunscreen, because you will end up waiting for quite a while for a glimpse into this chamber. Descriptions don't do it justice, so you can check the pics out and watch the video. If you want my full write-up on Marrakech, you can find it here.

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