Dar Al Ala

Dar Al Ala, whose name means the house of the instrument, is a small museum devoted to Arab-Andalusian music, one of the great classical traditions of Morocco. It was set up in 2010 and 2011 by the Association des Amateurs de la Musique Andalouse du Maroc, which was founded in 1958 and still has its headquarters here. The association restored an older house in the Habous quarter, adding a floor and a glass roof, and turned it into a place to preserve and share this music.

Inside, the exhibition space displays historic instruments, many of them donated over the decades by musicians and pioneers of the genre, alongside photographs of past orchestras and manuscripts transcribing sung Andalusian poetry, some dating back to the 17th century. There is also a library and a media library for researchers and enthusiasts. It is a modest collection, described by the regional tourism council as a tiny museum, but it gives real insight into a tradition that visitors often hear without understanding its roots.

The best reason to come may be the music itself. The association organises evenings, debates and events around Andalusian and sacred music, and its weekly Thursday evenings have drawn audiences of more than 150 people. If you can time your visit to coincide with one of these, you will see the museum as a living venue rather than a static display. Ask locally or contact the association about the programme, since dates are not always widely publicised.

Dar Al Ala suits music lovers, culturally curious travellers and anyone exploring the Habous quarter at a slower pace. Opening hours and admission arrangements are not published by the regional tourism council, so treat it as a place to check in advance or to look in on while you are in the area. Allow around 30 minutes for the exhibition, or an evening for a concert.

The museum is in the Habous quarter, the planned new medina built from the 1910s onwards, a short taxi ride south-east of the city centre. Combine it with a walk through the arcaded streets of the Habous, the Mahkama du Pacha and the area's bookshops and pastry shops. The Royal Palace, which is not open to the public, lies next to the quarter.