Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace is a well-preserved 19th-century palace complex in Morocco. Construction began in the 1860s under the direction of Si Moussa, a grand vizier to the Sultan of Morocco, and was later significantly expanded by his son, Ba Ahmed, between 1894 and 1900. "Bahia" means "brilliant" in Arabic and is said to be the name of one of Ba Ahmed's favorite wives.

The entire palace covers nearly two hectares, with approximately 150 rooms arranged around multiple courtyards and interior gardens, creating a maze-like layout due to its phased expansion. The grand courtyard is paved with Italian Carrara marble and surrounded by painted wooden colonnades, with dozens of rooms nearby believed to have been the living quarters for Ba Ahmed's harem. The grand hall at the east end of the courtyard features the palace's most impressive painted cedar wood ceiling. The large garden on the north side is the oldest part of the palace and still retains trees planted in the 19th century.

The palace's decoration embodies the essence of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship: walls are adorned with plaster reliefs carved with Arabic inscriptions, geometric patterns, and floral vines; floors are paved with hand-cut, colorful glazed mosaic tiles; and ceilings are decorated with painted cedar wood patterns. The materials used in its construction were brought from all over Morocco—marble from Meknes, cedar wood from the Middle Atlas Mountains, and tiles from Tetouan—and were completed through the collaboration of artisans from across the country.