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The walls are built from a mixture of mud, straw and lime (known as pisé), which becomes as hard as brick on drying. The distinctive pinkish-red hue of the walls is a result of pigments in the local earth.

The most beautiful city gate, the “Gate of the Gnawa”, is the only stone-built one. It was erected during Almohad sultan Yacoub El Mansour’s reign.

This was the original southern city gate. The gatehouse building is now occupied by a pottery shop and all foot and car traffic pass through a modern breach in the old walls.

This massive gate built by the Almoravids in the 12th century now stands isolated from the walls, thanks to 20th-century urban planning. The cavernous interior rooms lend themselves for use as a sometime event space.

Apart from being perimetre defences, other walls and gates divided up the interior of the medina. For instance, a wall separated the royal kasbah quarter from the city; Bab Berrima was one of the gates between these two distinct zones.

This gate gives access to the tanneries, and when it’s open to visitors, you can ascend an internal staircase to the gatehouse roof for sweeping city views.

The most northerly of gates is also the most decorative, with a semi-circle of stalactite mouldings arcing over the entranceway. Outside the gate is a pretty little marabout or shrine.

Just outside the walls stand seven stone towers each topped by a tree. This giant ensemble is in homage to the seven saints of Marrakech.

West of the Agdal Gardens, this curious free-standing fortress used to be a garrison for cavalry and its horse ramp is intact to this day.

The best way to view the walls is by a calèche . Take a complete circuit for the equivalent of a few dollars.