Souk shopping with a local
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Souk Semmarine
Souk SmarineSouk Semmarine, Marrakech: the main covered souk street north of Jemaa el-Fna, for slippers, kaftans, lanterns and leather. Free to walk.
Souk Semmarine is the main market street of the medina, running north from Jemaa el-Fna under a slatted roof. Its name means the market of the farriers.
The souks between Jemaa el-Fna and the Ben Youssef Mosque were laid out by trade: leather, carpets, metalwork, pottery. The covered kissaria at their heart may go back to Almohad times, in the 12th and 13th centuries. The trades are still roughly grouped, with plenty of overlap.
Today Semmarine sells everything from embroidered slippers and leather pouffes to kaftans, jewellery and lanterns. Further north it forks into Souk el-Kebir to the north-east and Souk el-Attarine to the north-west.
It is the busiest and most touristy street of the souks, and prices start high. Haggling is normal.
Good to know
- Keep bags closed in the crowds.
- Mopeds and handcarts use the same lanes; step aside when you hear them.
- A polite "no thank you" and walking on is enough when you are not buying.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, visitmorocco.com