El Azhar Hotel

Facing the north side of the Cathedral, and going almost unnoticed, there is a small passage that leads to the Powder Tower or Mihulka, built in the late 15th Century as part of the of the castle´s defenses. Later it became the workshop of the canyons bell-founder, Thomas Jaros, head of the cathedral bells. The alchemists who worked for Rudolf II also worked here. Today it houses an exhibition on the military history of the castle, and military police uniforms. The interior is something you may want to skip if you have no particular interest in military paraphernalia. Honestly, I went because it

Hotel el Azhar is in the neighborhood of Sidi Bouloukat, next to a half-dozen hotels, including Faouzi or Afriquia. Actually, they are all a bit similar and each time I go to Marrakesh, I go between them, seeing which one will offer the best price. The rooms are simple and clean, with blankets in the winter but not during the heat of July and August. It's an old building organised around a central courtyard. The rooms don't have much sun during the day, but they don't all have fans. It costs around 20 euros a night for a double room, not including breakfast.