At the foot of the Atlas mountains, steeped in history, lies fascinating Marrakech, Morocco's most important former Imperial city. Here's a brief guide to the best historical sites and other must-see attractions: The Koutoubia Mosque: the minaret (70m) is the highest of the city, a landmark visible for many kms. The mosque has been used as an architectural blueprint for many other mosques since the minaret was completed during the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199). El-Badi Palace: translated as 'the incomparable palace', the El Badi, built by the Saadian king, Ahmad al-Mansur in 1578, is one of the most visited sites in Marrakech, Today, the shell of the original building, thought once to have consisted of 360 rooms, most of them swathed in gold from Sudan, plays host to the annual festival of Moroccan folklore, usually held in June.