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Riads are traditional master's residences where Moroccan families carried out most of their
daily life, especially the women, who could not participate in public life and spent most
of their life in these splendid structures.
The term 'riad' in Arabic means "garden", this explains why the riads are built around an
internal courtyard, which was once used to keep out the heat and was a unique outlet for the
inhabitants.
The need for Moroccan people to separate their domestic life from their public life meant
that the riads were built inwards. There were no balconies or windows facing the road.
During the day, nearly all the natural light and air came from the courtyard, which
collected the cool dense night air.
All was hidden and concealed behind high and impenetrable walls. The residences were
traditionally divided into quarters, one for the women, one for the men, the staff,
and the children, to guarantee the privacy and respect of all those living in the house.
Over the last few years, most of the Moroccan riads were renovated and converted into
private residences or charming hotels. This trend has largely contributed to the fame
the red city has acquired over time.
The typical riads are located all over the old city of Medina, but reach their maximum
architectural expression in cities such as Fes, Meknes and Marrakech, where real colossal
palaces were built as a legacy to its glorious history.
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