Marrakech, a former imperial city in western Morocco, and a major economic center with mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a fortified and densely populated medieval city dating from the Berber Empire, with alleys intertwined like a labyrinth, where bustling souks (markets) sell traditional fabrics, pottery and jewelry. Symbol of the city, the minaret of the 12th-century Moorish Koutoubia Mosque can be seen for miles.