Qubba Almoravide

The oldest structure in Marrakech, built when the city was new. The Qubba dates to the early 12th century — the Almoravid dynasty that founded Marrakech and ruled an empire from Senegal to Spain. The dome is small, just an ablutions pavilion for a mosque long vanished. But the survival is remarkable: every other Almoravid building in Morocco has been destroyed or rebuilt. This one was buried and forgotten, rediscovered in 1948 during French excavations. The decoration is revolutionary — the earliest known use of the geometric patterns that became Moroccan architectural vocabulary. The carved arches, the dome's interior, the water channels: everything later mosques elaborated began here. Five minutes tells the story; the story matters. Best time: Morning (combine with Ben Youssef) Allow: 30 minutes Combine with: Ben Youssef Medersa and Musée de Marrakech