Place el-Hedim — the Square of Demolition — is the great open space between the medina and Moulay Ismail's Imperial City. The name refers to the materials used to build the Imperial City: Ismail demolished large sections of the Marinid city to quarry stone and timber for his new capital, and piled the rubble here. Today the square is a busy social hub, best in the late afternoon when families gather and food stalls fire up around the edges.
The square is framed on its southern side by the massive arch of Bab Mansour, the most photographed sight in Meknes. The Dar Jamai Museum occupies the north side. Facing west, the medina begins with the main souk entrance. It is one of the more photogenic squares in Morocco, especially in the golden hour before sunset.