Art trip to Marrakech March 11, 2010 - March 16, 2010

The Art and Language departments at CCSS arranged an educational study trip to the Moroccan city of Marrakech between Thursday 11th and Tuesday 16th March 2010.

Marrakech is the perfect introduction to Berber-Arab civilization. Vibrant and exotic, the city has magnificent examples of Islamic architecture such as the Koutoubia Mosque and the Bahia Palace. The focal point of the city is its huge market square – the Djemaa el-Fna – a World Heritage Site famed for its snake charmers, whirling dervishes and story tellers, which at dusk is transformed by a hundred make-shift barbeque restaurants and troops of entertainers vying for attention. Sprawling off the square, the narrow alleyways of the Souk (bazaar), contrast with the tranquility of shady courtyard gardens beyond... 

As always, the trip was fully integrated within the Fine Art, History of Art and French A-level syllabuses. The visit was led by Richard Swift (Head of Fine Art & History of Art). Accompanying him from the Language Departments were Embarek Oulfkih (Head of ESL, and native of Midelt to the north-east of Marrakech), Sylvie Chastagnol (Head of Languages), and Adrian Wright (leader of several groups to the city).