A historic structure that was torn down during the 17th Century to aid the refurbishment of buildings in Meknes, the El Badi Palace, or rather its remnants, still tell of great splendor. It was the Saadian Sultan Ahmed El Mansour who ordered the palace built after the 1578 victory against the Portuguese in the Battle of the Three Kings. With 15 years invested in its magnificent construction, the palace shelters the remnants of stunning summer houses like Koubba El Khamsiniya. All that remains of the palace built with precious stones are remains of the ceremonial buildings. These now serve as venues for the annual Festival National des Arts Populaires, the country's biggest folklore and music festival.
