Known in Arabic as Al Medina al-Hamra, the ‘Red City’, Marrakech lies near the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, an ancient city of romance and culture at Morocco’s heart. Just outside its walls, set within an oasis of palm and olive trees alongside a golf course, is Amanjena or ‘peaceful paradise’. A tranquil retreat, Amanjena reflects the region’s Moorish heritage in every graceful arch, stone courtyard and rose petal-strewn fountain, its sunpaled red walls and reflective pools paying homage to North Africa’s stark beauty and rich history.
Twin lounges frame the Entrance Colonnade, each featuring a brass lantern nearly two metres high adjacent to an open fireplace. Rising from circular banquettes of hand-printed velvet, the lanterns reach towards lofty ceilings as traditional Moroccan music drifts through the open spaces of the resort, framed by Moorish arches.
Featuring clusters of cotton-sabra armchairs, The Bar is ideal for casual dining, pre-dinner aperitifs and post-dinner nightcaps. The venue is airily cool in summer and warmly welcoming during winter with its open fireplace and ambient lighting. Housed within The Bar, The Fumoir offers a selection of cigars.
Framed by onyx columns, The Restaurant is an elegant space centred by a marble fountain and lit by a retractable skylight. The menu features Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine.
Situated alongside the pool, Amanjena’s Thai Restaurant (left ) features banks of glass doors and coral-tadlekt walls. Amanjena’s traditional Caidal Tent (below ) is set in an olive grove and offers a romantic venue for private dinners accompanied by local music.
The resort’s 33-metre swimming pool, heated in cooler months, is finished in hand-cut, glazed green tiles.
The Pool Terrace enjoys views of an olive orchard, the resort’s canals, a golf course and the High Atlas Mountains in the distance. Casual meals and refreshments are served throughout the day. Two clay tennis courts with minzahs (gazebos) for drinks and breaks can be lit for night play, while a fully-equipped gym is available at Amanjena’s Spa.
The boutique is located within the cedar-ceilinged colonnade that embraces the main swimming pool. A variety of locally-crafted products (above) is available for purchase. The two-storey Library (below and right) features a fireplace and a six-metre, double-volume ceiling. A balcony runs along the perimeter of the second floor.
Spa treatments ranging from traditional Moroccan gommage (scrubs) to a selection of massages can be enjoyed at Amanjena’s Spa. Other services include reflexology, facials, manicures, pedicures and waxing. Private treatment rooms offer a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation.
Amanjena’s Spa features two Turkish-style hammams (steam baths) complemented by showers, washrooms, a dressing area and a glassed-in whirlpool. The whirlpool opens onto a fountain courtyard bordered by a two-metre pisÊ wall.
Amanjena’s 32 Pavilions, six twostorey Maisons and the Al Hamra Maison radiate from the ancient bassin (irrigation pool) which lies at the heart of the resort.
The resort’s 32 Pavilions lie beneath their own graceful stuc Venetien domes. A wood-burning fireplace brightens the living area while Moroccan marble finishes the bathroom and its stepped and columned bathtub. Berber carpets are scattered about zellij-tiled floors.
Six Pavilions Bassin are located next to the main bassin and feature garden courtyards with pillared minzahs (below left ), loungers lit by candle lanterns and zellij fountains recessed into terracottatiled floors. Identical in design, eight Pavilions Piscine (right ) each feature their own heated pool and an extended private garden.
Amanjena’s six two-storey Maisons capture the spirit of Moroccan town houses, each featuring a courtyard garden, private pool and two ensuite bedrooms. Steps from a Maison’s living room rise seven metres to the master bedroom and marble-pillared bathroom.
The Maisons have private pools (right) situated between covered lounging and dining areas and traditional minzahs. The master bedrooms (above) feature king-size beds.
Maison guest bedrooms (above) are located on the ground floor and feature their own bathrooms and separate entrances to the garden courtyards.
The Al-Hamra Maison has both indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, an open fireplace and its own private butler service. Two bedrooms are linked by an open passageway to the shared garden where there are two minzahs and a private heated pool.
Amanjena offers guided excursions on foot, by bicycle or private car into the medina, the souks, squares, palaces, gardens and craft shops of Marrakech. The Djemaa el Fna (below) is one of the busiest squares in Africa, bustling with dancers, acrobats and musicians by day and a huge open-air restaurant at night.
The High Atlas Mountains are a spectacular sight, in summer as well as winter when snowfall attracts skiers. In summer, guests can enjoy high altitude picnics with breathtaking views or explore the traditional Berber villages tucked into the foothills. The quaint seaside town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast offers another daytrip option.
Two golf courses, one located alongside Amanjena, also offer scenic views of the surrounding region.
Route de Ouarzazate, km 12, Marrakech, Morocco 40000 BP 2405, Poste principale de Gueliz Tel: (212) 524 399 000 Fax: (212) 524 403 477 E-mail: amanjena@amanresorts.com www.amanresorts.com
Rose-hued walls enclose the contemporary oasis that is Amanjena, a peaceful sanctuary imbued with the historic elegance and romance of Marrakech, Morocco’s ancient soul.