Commissioned by Ahmad al‑Mansur after the 1578 Battle of the Three Kings, El Badi once dazzled with onyx, marble, and vast sunken gardens—before being quarried for materials a century later. Its monumental ruins, stork‑lined walls, and underground passages evoke Marrakech’s Saadian zenith; ongoing archaeology and conservation interpret a lost marvel.
Funded in part by war spoils and trans‑Saharan trade, El Badi showcased Saadian diplomacy and taste: audiences in the grand courtyard, ornate pavilions, and water basins cooled the palace. Under Alaouite sultan Moulay Isma‘il (early 18th century), materials were stripped for Meknes—transforming El Badi into the poetic ruin seen today.
Archaeology maps foundations of reception halls, prisons, and service tunnels; restored Saadian pavilions and a museum display fragments and context. Seasonal nesting storks animate the ramparts.
Stabilizing walls, controlling vegetation, and safe visitor circulation guide projects, while events occasionally activate the vast court. Interpretation connects El Badi with nearby Saadian Tombs and the medina’s palaces.
