Ben Youssef Madrasa Marrakech

Established in the fourteenth Century, the Ben Youssef Madrasa is one of the most important buildings of its type in Marakesh. A Madrasa is a Koran school which provides everything for its students, including dorm rooms and learning quarters. The building itself is a fascinating example of mixed architecture, consisting mainly of Moorish Spanish styles, leading many to believe the building may have been built with help from Spanish architects. The courtyard itself, though, is the real attraction. Mixing many forms and styles, the decorations are made from every material from stucco and marble to mosaic and cedar wood.