Marrakech, Morocco - Saadian Tombs

The Saadian Tombs were constructed under Sultan Ahmed el Mansour (1578-1603); however, the tombs were sealed off and only rediscovered in 1917 during a French aerial survey. The Saadian Tombs were constructed to be el Mansour's burial site.

Some interesting facts about the Saadian Tombs include the following:

• There are two main mausoleums.
•  66 tombs are laid within them and over 100 more are laid outside in the gardens.
• The first mausoleum contains the tombs of Sultan Ahmed el Mansour and the “mad sultan” Moulay Yazid.
• The second mausoleum is older than the first and contains the tomb of El Mansour’s mother and of the founder of the Saadian dynasty, Mohammed ech Sheikh. 
• A few decades after 1603, the tombs were accessible through a small passage in the Kasbah Mosque; however, they were rediscovered in 1917 due to an aerial photograph taken by the French.

The tombs of some famous figures include:

• Ahmed el Mansour 
• Ahmed el Mansour's mother 
• Founder of the Saadian dynasty, Mohammed ech Skeikh 
• The tomb of the infamous "Mad Moulay Yazid" 
• Tombs of over 100 Saadian princes and members of royal households are scattered around the gardens