Menara Gardens

The Menara is one of the oldest gardens in Marrakech and one of the simplest: a huge orchard of olive trees laid out in rows around a large rectangular reservoir, with a small pavilion at its edge and, on clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas rising behind. The gardens were founded by the Almohad dynasty in the twelfth century, according to Visit Morocco, the national tourism office, as part of the irrigation system that fed the city's orchards with water carried from the mountains by underground channels, the khettaras. The basin stored water and helped regulate the flow to the surrounding groves; legend says it was also used to teach soldiers to swim before campaigns across the sea. The pavilion with its green-tiled pyramid roof dates in its present form from the Alaouite era and is the image you will have seen on postcards and in tourist brochures. The Menara is part of the Medina of Marrakesh World Heritage Site, together with the Agdal. Expectations matter here: this is not a flower garden like the Majorelle, but an agricultural landscape, dusty in summer, and some visitors are disappointed. What makes it special is space, light and the view of the mountains, best in winter and spring when the air is clear and the peaks are white. Locals come to walk, picnic and feed the carp in the basin, and families gather in the evening. Entry to the gardens is free; a small fee is usually charged to go up into the pavilion. It lies on the western edge of the city, near the airport, a short taxi ride from the Medina or Hivernage.

When to go: late afternoon, when the light turns golden on the water and the pavilion, and the mountains glow pink at sunset on clear days. Visit Morocco describes the place taking on a glow at sunset that recalls tales of the Arabian Nights, which is generous but not wrong. Mornings are quieter. On hazy summer days the Atlas can disappear completely, so check the view from your rooftop before you go.

What to do there: walk the path around the basin, take the classic photograph of the pavilion with the mountains behind (the best angle is from the far side of the basin), and wander into the olive groves for shade. There are a few cafes and kiosks near the entrance, and horse-drawn calèches wait to take visitors back to the city; agree the price first.

Getting there and pairing: the Menara is about ten minutes by taxi from the Koutoubia, near the airport, and the Four Seasons Resort sits opposite the entrance. Combine it with a late-afternoon drink in Hivernage, or with a morning at the Agdal on one of its opening days for a full day of the city's historic gardens. If time is short, the Cyber Park offers a closer, greener garden walk inside the walls area.