El Badi Palace
El Badi Palace was once the magnificent royal palace of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadi Dynasty, located in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour commissioned the Badia Palace shortly after his accession in 1578; it is thought to have been largely completed by the early 1580s, but Al-Mansour continued to embellish and decorate the palace for at least another 20 years with the finest produce from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. El Badi was an opulent hotel complex with about 350 rooms, patios, gardens, and a big pool. The Badi Palace was one of the most remarkable of its kind in the world at the time, and while it's difficult to imagine today, the reflecting pools and vestiges of the subterranean gardens give a glimpse of its previous grandeur and majesty.
The palace's ruins are open to tourists today, including the underground chambers, which have various exhibitions — there's a full permanent exhibit looking at the conditions for slaves and captives who would have lived in these darkly fascinating subterranean rooms. The subterranean gardens and the Koubba el Khamsiniyya or "main hall," the Koutoubia minbar (complete with Cordoban artisans' gold and silver calligraphy), and the Khayzuran Pavillion, which hosts modern art exhibitions, are also highlights.
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco.
