Casablanca Morocco

Africa is the world’s second largest continent. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, by the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Africa has been referred to as a mysterious place for travelers to visit and as the place for safari lovers.

Morocco and the city of Casablanca is a city in the country of Morocco in North Africa. This city always makes me think of the classic film by the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Only today their characters Rick and Elsa would not be saying a romantic and tearful good-bye in a small, dark airport because today Casablanca is home to Morocco’s primary international airport and has become the main gateway to the country.

Beyond the northern tip of Casablanca’s medina or old city on the shoreline you’ll find the Hassan II mosque which actually dominates the entire city. It was finished in 1993 and is the second-largest mosque in the world. It also has the world’s tallest minaret at 200 m high. 25,000 worshippers can gather together in the prayer hall and the courtyard with its retractable roof can easily accommodate another 80,000. Everywhere you look you can see intricate decoration. The mosque sits right on the tip of a rocky bay above the ocean. Guided tours are available for non-Muslims beginning at the western entrance several times per day.

Medina is Casablanca’s old city district offering visitors twists and turns along alleyways with many things to discover. There are tradesmen selling their creations to shoppers. It is a neighborhood that is a delight to discover wandering about on foot. It is a wonderful place to see how the people of the city live. In the southern section you can find some holy men koubbas or shrines.

The city’s central plaza is known as Place Mohamed V and is home to many important official buildings like the main post office, Palace of Justice, Prefecture, French Consulate and the main Bank of Morocco. All of the facades reflect the Neo-Moorish style. The square has a central fountain and lovely well-kept gardens. In the evening people enjoy coming here for evening strolls.

Corniche is the beachfront district located in the Ain Diab suburb. Along the shoreline you can see luxury hotels and restaurants. There are beach clubs here and those wishing to sunbathe can choose to swim in the club swimming pools or in the ocean at the public beach. You’ll find many people here during the weekends enjoying their time on the sand, having picnics, or strolling along the shore.

Cathedral du Sacre Coeur was built in the 1930s in a mix of European and Moroccan styles. It is a building worth taking a look at.

Nearby is the Notre Dame de Lourdes a church that has a vast stained glass window which covers over 800 square meters. This amazing stained glass window is the artwork of Gabriel Loire, a famous French artist.

The place to really see the city and its people is at the bustling Central Market right in the center of the city. Here residents come to buy and sell. You can find most everything here including Morocco’s famous slippers.

When visiting Casablanca it is also worth it to venture beyond the city and see some of the other places nearby.

Mohammedia is a quiet seaside city 28 km from Casablance. It offers some fine beaches and is home to Morocco’s second largest port. It is a lovely little city to wander in with grand palm-tree lined boulevards. The beaches are along the coastline. It is great to relax at the cafes and restaurants here on summer weekends.

88 km south of Casablanca is little Azemmour which is a village with a history dating back to Punic times. The medina area is surrounded by ramparts which connect to the Kasbah or fortress dating from the 16th-century. Along the Atlantic coast you’ll find a lovely beach.

102 km south of Casablanca is the small town of El Jadida where you can also find lovely beaches. In the Citadel area, built by the Portuguese you can climb up the walls for spectacular sea views. Also in this area are atmospheric cisterns, dating from the 16th-century and were used as a filming location in the famous Orson Welles movie “Othello”.

182 km south of Casablanca lies the charming seaside village Oualidia. It offers visitors a beautiful beach and many admire the Saadian era Kasbah or fortress district. This village is all about oyster and its oyster beds are famous all through Morocco. The restaurants offer oysters and lots of other seafood fresh from the sea.

Finally 237 km south of Casablanca is the port of Safi. It was already an important port in Roman times.

The Portuguese occupied the city in 1508 and built the Dar el Bahar Fortress on the shoreline. It is Morocco’s most famous ceramic center. The two main highlights here are the Pottery Souk and the National Ceramic Museum.