The Belvedere of Itto: the story behind the name

Goulmima, Morocco- Walking down a street in your city, you will certainly come across an odd street name that you have never heard of.

How many times did you try to stop and ask people living in that street about that person whose name everybody says but whose achievements are not widely known?

A street name is one of many examples that provoke our curiosity, including theaters, museums, and public squares There are few occasions when you find somebody who can give you a story about the name, and it is often very subjective; other times an ordinary person does not miss the opportunity to flex his narrative muscles and a very fertile imagination of which the name of the hero or heroine is the only real detail.

Not very long ago, there was a TV show that gave the history of a road name in each episode. It was very informative; however, wouldn’t it be more informative and educational if every place that is named after somebody provides a short description of that person’s accomplishments? This burning question must have already been asked by those who wanted to know what the individual did to deserve something named after them!

One case among many: the Belvedere of Itto

If you choose the city of Meknes as a starting point to go south through El Hajb and Azrou, it will not escape your attention, 15 Km from Azrou, those gentle undulations that form a vast natural illusion spreading before your eyes and sometimes beyond your visual field. It is the vast and breathtaking panoramic view of Itto, commonly known as “Mandar Itto”.

Mandar Itto is not like those heavenly places that only lucky adventurous people have the privilege to visit. The site is a gift of nature to whomever travels on that road. It offers a space for rest after a long trip. It may not have the luxurious facilities of a resort, but it offers you an earthen balcony over an amazing view.

Itto is the Berber name for Fatima or Fadma. Few are the places that are named after females in Morocco and when she is Amazigh, she must have played a revolutionary role to be granted that honor. However, unlike many other places who carry names that may not even be Moroccan and to which no description is provided, Mandar Itto blows the vistor’s mind by providing a very striking description engraved on a white piece of marble as if it is an epitaph of the heroine.

The marble is written in French and it says:

“‘Itto Laarbi’ is a powerful and prestigious woman who is very respected within her tribe. A true military leader, she led wars against the neighboring tribes in late 19th century and against the French armies during the protectorate. The territory under her rule was named after her and thus the French named this panoramic balcony ‘the landscape of Itto’.

A story related by El Khalfi Hajj Akka, a descendant of Itto.

Located at the heart of Ait-M’Guild, which is at the center of Amazigh culture and traditions, this rolling landscape, abundant in cedar and oak trees, offers a majestic view that overlooks the Valley of Tigrigra.”

Reading this description makes your head nod unintentionally, your eyebrows rise, your eyes widen and a “wow” expression crosses your face.

The story of a woman called Itto who loved to sit on that very high mountain for the sake of contemplation has been circulating for a long time; however, the description debunks this myth and reinforces feelings of respect and appreciation not only towards Itto, but towards yourself as a Moroccan who lives in a country where women play leading roles and places are named after them.

Associating an image or a name with an idea or a definition is a beautiful marriage of elements that complete each other. The Belvedere of Itto is a place where nature is wedded to the contemplator’s memory, an open invitation by Mother Nature to embrace its golden fields in the summer, the greenery in the spring and the glittering snow-capped mountains in winter.

Edited by Jessica Rohan. Photo courtesy Elakramine