“A Virtual Tour of Morocco’s Gardens (featuring botanical wonders from Rabat and Marrakech)” By Skyler Korkowski
During my first busy week here in Rabat, I visited the Garden of Botanical Tests to take a moment to revive and relax. As I wandered through this vine-covered pavilion, I felt inspired by the beauty of nature that this garden so elegantly portrays. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
This collection of grasses in Rabat’s Garden of Botanical Tests is another example of the subtle natural beauty that this garden highlights throughout its 17 hectares. Beyond the various collections of greenery in the garden, the garden’s mixture of architecture (including the building in this photo) adds to its overall appeal making it a must-see spot when visiting Rabat. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
This collection of lily pads is just one example of the incorporation of water into the curation of the gardens in Rabat’s Garden of Botanical Tests. In addition to its many ponds and pools, this garden features a mini display about the use of water as a key feature in Moroccan gardens in one of its small buildings along the main path. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
After a long morning on the train from Rabat to Marrakech, a visit to Jardin Majorelle was just what my roommate and I needed. This photo shows the variety of plants (including succulents, flowers, and trees) of different colors and sizes present throughout the garden. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
The famous pool in Jardin Majorelle is covered with stunning lily pads and was a popular photo-op spot for the garden’s many visitors. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
After roaming around Jemaa el-Fnaa and the medina of Marrakech, I found that visiting Bahia Palace was a great way to find a bit of calm in such a hectic environment. In the center of Bahia Palace, there is a small garden filled with fruit trees and colorful tile design in which both me (and this cat) were able to rest before venturing out into this city again. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
Badi Palace’s expansive central gardens were another highlight of my weekend trip to Marrakech. Although visitors are not allowed to wander through the trees as in other gardens, Badi Palace’s historical significance and surrounding ruins made visiting this garden a uniquely enjoyable experience. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
Unlike the other parks I visited during my time in Marrakech, Lalla Hasna Park near Koutoubia mosque is free and open to the public. I absolutely loved the views from this park and its incredible water features. Photo credit: Korkowski, 2024.
Skyler Korkowski is a student at the University of Southern California and is studying abroad on the Amideast Intensive Arabic Program in Morocco this Summer, 2024.
