Description: The trademark color of Marrakesh seems to be this bright burnt or reddish orange that permeates so many structures of the city. Marrakesh is sometimes referred to as the "Red City" because of this dominant hue. This color is most prominent on the old city walls and gates that ring the old city medina. The entire circumference of the walls is about 16 kilometers. There are 20 gates and about 200 towers.
One can encounter these massive walls during any visit in the medina. You can take a tour of the ramparts by following the appropriately named Route des Remparts, which rings the northern half of the walls. Boulevard el-Yarmouk lines the southwestern portion of the walls.
If you are coming from the Gueliz, you may enter the medina via the Avenue de la Menara and through the Bab el-Jdid, a broad gateway consisting of two rectangular posts with no crossbeam connecting them. A little further south, the smaller arch of the Bab Agnaou is more ornate, and no cars can penetrate through here. Other prominent gates on the western side are the Bab Doukkala, Bab Nkob and Bab Ksiba.
The Bab Debbagh is an eastern gate, near the congregation of tanneries. If you wander through this gate to the outside, you will see locals meandering up and down grungy hills and the bed of the Oued Issil (Issil River).
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