Palacio El Badi

El Badi, "the Incomparable", was one of the most lavish palaces in the Islamic world, built in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur with gold, onyx, and Italian marble. Today its monumental ruins, with huge courtyards, reflecting pools, and walls inhabited by storks, convey the grandeur of that era. From its terraces you can enjoy one of the best views of the medina and the Atlas Mountains. Inside, the minbar of the Koutoubia, a jewel of Andalusian woodwork, is on display. 📷 Photographs courtesy of Keirn OConnor (CC BY-SA 2.0) and Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.