"riyāḍ" is Arabic and means garden. And the garden is the central part of the riad: the riad is a traditional Moroccan house or villa with a landscaped courtyard or garden in the The construction of the old houses is inspired by the Roman villa with an atrium and is very common in the coastal region around Essaouira in Morocco. The riad became popular with the beginning of Islam. They offer protection and privacy for the family, but also a pleasant climate in the house. Many riads in Marrakech and Essaouira are used as hotels nowadays and are wonderful, very individual accommodations that often resemble treasure chests and captivate with their enchanting decoration.