Dar Si Saïd Museum

Dar Si Saïd, a museum in Marrakesh

Museum on Moroccan history, culture and customs…

This magnificent palatial house perfectly illustrates the architecture of the Marrakchis riads and the work of local master craftsmen (maâlem).

Along with the Bahia Palace, it is the other large private residence in the Marrakesh Palace district and plunges us into the splendour of Hispano-Moorish art.

It was built in the mid-19th century for Si Saïd, the brother of the great vizier Bou Ahmed. The ground floor is dedicated to wood craftsmanship, as much in the decorative arts as in liturgical furniture: sculpted or painted doors, elements of woodwork (corbels, carved friezes, mosque balustrades…), tools and pieces of furniture.

Access to a beautiful patio paved with zelliges (mosaics) where fountains and greenery bring freshness and around which there are three exhibition rooms.

Don’t miss the collection of traditional weapons, silver jewellery chiselled, watermarked, embroidered or excised leather from Marrakesh, potteries of rustic craftsmanship and the world of the hammam.

On the first floor, the reception room with its painted ceilings and cedar openwork dome is the most spectacular. You will notice the finesse and abundance of wall decorations.

A small corner houses one of the very first existing rides, ancestor of our childhood memories, composed of 4 small individual wooden cabins, it is manually articulated. Finally, we reach the second floor where are represented the carpets and musical instruments overlooking the courtyard of the ancient harem. The explanatory panels are in Arabic and French.

information

Dar Si Said is open every day except Tuesdays. 9 am to 12:15 pm and 3 pm to 6:15 pm. Entrance 10 Dh.

How to come to the museum Dar Si Saïd

From the Bahia Palace, go up Riad-Zitoune-el-Jdid Street to a small parking place. Take the derb (alley) on the right which goes under a vault then the next alley on the left, the museum Dar Si Said is just in front of a few meters.