How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Market at Marrakesh

The Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh’s bustling market square, hits the uninitiated like a bracing slap in the face.

The minute you step into this ancient market, which has served as the throbbing center of commerce in Marrakesh since 1070, you’re subjected to a firehose of sensations — waves of controlled calamity.

The sun sets on another day at the Jemaa el-Fna, which has served continuously as Marrakesh’s throbbing center of commerce for over 1,000 years. (Photo by Craig K. Collins ©2023)