Question 1

What does mellah mean?

Accepted Answer

The word comes from the Arabic 'mallah', meaning 'salt' or 'saline area', after either a saline spring or a former salt warehouse on the Marrakech site. The term originally had no negative meaning and was simply a local toponym before being applied to Jewish quarters across Morocco.

Question 2

When was the Mellah created?

Accepted Answer

In 1558, by decree of Saadian sultan Moulay Abdallah al-Ghalib. The community was relocated from scattered medina addresses into a single walled quarter beside the royal kasbah and the soon-to-be-built El Badi Palace.

Question 3

Can you visit the synagogues?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Lazama (Slat al-Azama) Synagogue, founded in the 16th century by Sephardic refugees from Spain, is the best-known active synagogue in the Mellah and is open to visitors most days outside of Shabbat and major Jewish holidays.

Question 4

Is the Mellah a separate ticket?

Accepted Answer

No, the Mellah is a public neighbourhood — there is no entry fee for the quarter itself. Individual sites such as the Lazama Synagogue ask for a small donation, and the Miâra cemetery is free to visit.

Marrakech Mellah

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