In recent years, hotels with stories—whether real or fictional—from every corner of the world have been attracting more attention from vacationers. One such hotel is Ana Yela in Marrakech.
The hotel’s story revolves around a secret room discovered by chance during restoration work and a love letter written by a 16-year-old girl found inside that room. The hotel’s name, Ana Yela, means “I am Yela” in Arabic—and that is precisely where the hotel gets its name.
When German entrepreneur Bernard Kolb purchased the building in 2007 and began restoring it, workers discovered a mysterious room. Inside this room, they found a small jewelry box containing Yela’s letter. In the letter, Yela described her secret love. The boy she loved would come to her side at the palace’s highest tower at night, leaping from the adjacent rooftops of Marrakech without being seen by anyone. The two lovers would meet there, and the boy would whisper promises that the rug they were sitting on would take flight in exchange for a kiss from Yela. In her letter, Yela described the very first moment the boy kissed her, explaining that she felt as if she were flying over the city’s red rooftops on the magic carpet beneath them. This letter was written the day before Yela got married and left home.
Ana Yela is a very exclusive boutique “riad” hotel with just five rooms, blending Marrakech’s traditional architecture with modern luxury and principles of sustainability. The hotel features 3 deluxe rooms and 2 large suites, each with a unique design. All rooms are equipped with eco-medical beds, fireplaces (in some), and exclusive oriental bath amenities.
This unique hotel in Marrakech awaits its guests.
