Casablanca is the biggest centre of Morocco and also a captivating and diverse city of a Maghreb Kingdom with thousands and more contrasts which make it highly interesting,attractive and full of surprises.
That huge incredible mixture of ancient Moorish monuments and palaces,French boulevards in a place which is always in constant development but at the same time also traditional as in the previous centuries so evident in its Kasbah and its Souks,places in which life continues to have a sort of intact and unchanged reality with people selling everything and trying to make the best to survive.
Casablanca is also the picture of familiar cafes usual meeting places for a chat between friends,enjoying a typical Atay the mint tea listening traditional folk Chaabi music but not far you can see the most trendy venues offering expensive cocktails accompanied by the sounds or the most latest techno,hip hop and disco dance music.
That Moroccan city is also the site which mostly foreign investors try to create their marketing plans oriented to successful operations and also a place in which many important architects of the World came or come to develop their modern and contemporary works and clear example is the majestic modern building Twin Centre,with a strong affinity to the most current American architecture.
That huge Maghreb city also has a wide number of luxury Hotels and stylish
quarters and and not far,just 5,0 kilometres away districts with old
modest whitewashed houses,corners of a city in which
sometimes it is not easy to live.
Walking along a street at a traffic light you can meet a humble olives vendor
wearing the traditional Djellaba walking next to the elegant businessman wearing the latest Dior suit...all.that and more is Casablanca.
That name Casablanca immediately evokes the legendary movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman,that famed and successful 1942 American movie directed by Michael Curtiz,a romantic drama in the Moroccan city under the control of the French Vichy Government.
The development of that movie focuses on Rick's conflict between in the words of one character,love and virtue:Rick Blaine must choose between his beloved Ilsa,trying to do the right thing,the dilemma is to escape or not from Casablanca being a leader of the resistance,so that it can continue its fight against the Nazis.
Definitely a legend of the Cinema history and Industry which never lost its charismatic appeal,fame and prestige,but apart that celebrated masterpiece Casablanca could be also a street movie for all the endless things and aspects you can see and find strolling its centre and extra radius in many of its neighbourhoods.
That immense centre facing the Atlantic Ocean is the largest city of Maghreb and the 3th largest city of North Africa with over 6,000,000 inhabitants,just behind Cairo and Algiers and in continuous urban expansion.
Situated Just 80,0 kilometres south of the capital Rabat,after Marrakech the Pearl of Atlas is one of the most visited Moroccan cities with Fez,Tangier and the Capital.
Very different than other Moroccan cities for its size and its urbanisation,Casablanca has grown like no other cities in the country,it has a very busy airport with domestic and international flights which serves as relevant stop for many Continental destinations.
The local architecture is marked by different styles,ranging from the Neo-Moorish Art Deco,boulevards in typical French style as you can see in the big cities of France,such as Marseille,Paris and Lyon,bordered by palms and trees and with huge squares highlighted by monuments or fountains and also masterpieces placed on constructions depicting magnificent Arab-Andalusian Mudejar architectonic details.
In classical Arabic language,the name of the city is
Dar al-Baidaa meaning the
bright House.Casablanca took that name from the fact that the former
Portuguese occupiers identified a small white
house on the hill of Anfa and called it
Casa Branca the white house.The name Anfa is in the 11th century a word which traces its founding by Zenetas at that time.
Portuguese and the pirates attacked in several occasions that settlement and the local population looked for permanently refuge in
Rabat (I wrote a post about the Moroccan Capital ,another very interesting place to discover)
or
Salé.
The former city was destroyed and uninhabited for about 3 centuries.In the year 1770,the Sultan Mohammed Ben Abbey decided to rebuild Casablanca to protect it by the continuous disputes with the Portuguese who had just lost the city of Mazagan El Jadida and they wanted to keep important and strategical maritime bases in Maghreb.
The city in that period found the support of the Spanish Kingdom who wanted to break the Portuguese colonisation in North Africa and the name was transformed from "Casa Branca" (in Portuguese) to Casa Blanca in Spanish language and from that its current name.That Sultan also commissioned the construction of a Mosque,a Medersa (an Islamic School) and a wide hammam.
Since the
19th century,the city developed thanks to a great boom related to the textile industry,which placed Casablanca as one of
the largest producers of wool in Africa.In the year
1860, there were approximately
4,000 inhabitants,reaching
9,000 in the year 1880.The former city decided to acquire a modern port,with the support of France and thanks that it dethroned
the first Moroccan harbour,Tangier. (also about that other great place of Morocco I wrote a post in the case you are interested
)
All that happened in the year
1906 and also due that event there was
a high increasing of the local population which in the year
1921 reached
110,000 inhabitants.
On June 1907, the French developed the railway near the port,but the latter passed through a Muslim cemetery causing unrest among French workers and residents with several riots.
The French Government sent troops to restore order which took control of the city and established a protectorate.In the year 1940 and also ten years later 1950,other riots took place,they were mainly anti-occupation movements,including there was an attack to the central market of Casablanca on Christmas Day in the year 1953 with 18 victims.
Meanwhile,Casablanca was a strategic harbour during the 2nd World War and it was also site of the famous Conference hosting the historic Anglo-American summit.On 2nd March 1956, when France recognised the independence of Morocco.
Tere was from there a slow b ut increasing and relevant improvement of the local industry and year by year Casablanca became the economic hub of the entire country and the most populated and the most developed city.
The visit of the city is very interesting and a suggested great point to start it is definitely from the iconic
Hassan II Mosque situated in Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallahis which is undoubtedly one of the metropolitan highlights.
That Muslim Temple was designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau ad the construction began on 12th July 1985 and inaugurated on 30th August1993.
Considered the highest temple in the world,the laser of the minaret of 200 metres can be seen from several kilometres at distance and the 3rd largest behind the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina both in Saudi Arabia.
To develop that construction worked approximately 2,500 people and 10,000 Moroccan craftsmen who developed with marble, granite,wood, tiles,plaster elaborate ceilings, floors,columns and other attractive and stylish architectonic details.
The features related to the latest technologies as resistance to earthquakes,which opens automatically roof, floor heating and electric gates are also undoubtedly something unique established in Morocco, furthermore,it is one of the few Mosques in world which allows visits to non-Muslim tourists.
That Religious building took its name by the Monarch Hassan II and was that King who decided its construction who during a visit to the city in a speech said :"Casablanca is a great city,the business capital of the country it has an economic power and it deserves an emblematic building to distinguish it over other cities."
Undoubtedly all that was a signal of great appreciation for Casablanca from part of the King who saw how that city of a Maghreb Kingdom developed and it was always ready to open its doors to new economic challenges attracting foreign entrepreneurs and businessmen.
The exterior of the Mosque occupies about 30,000 square meters and it can accommodate the impressive number of people,the complex is capable of accommodating up to 100,000 believers such as 80,000 in the courtyard and 25,000 in the prayer hall.
The complex also has its Medersa,the religious school,conference rooms,hammam,(baths),specialised libraries and a wide underground parking.
Avenue Moulay Youssef is a long and distinctive boulevard in the heart of the city,leaving the main Mosque and close to the the sea and it turns over the Medina.The historic centre as a first waist before Boulevard Zerktouni,which is a sort of a second peripheral artery belt.
The name of that avenue is in honour of one of the Kings of Morocco,it is an impressive boulevard flanked by palm trees,which give it a very exotic charm.It crosses a pretty rich,elegant and safe neighbourhood with trendy restaurants and packed of shops as well.In addition it hosts headquarters of relevant national and international companies.
Gautier district is located between Avenue Moulay Youssef and Avenue Zerktouni and it is one of the most popular and famous of the entire municipality.Largely Inhabited by expatriates,it has the highest rents in the city and it is a sort of Beverly Hills or Chelsea in Casablanca.
At the end of Avenue Moulay Youssef,there is a more popular neighbourhood with a large street market and with a atmosphere less chic,elegant and sophisticated but pretty coloured and lively,that is one of the several contrasts you can immediately notice during the visit.
Place Mohammed V is a very impressive square and it preserves a mixture of Moorish and French architecture but also some buildings with Andalusian and Italian influence.That kind of combination may seem a little bit stuffy but once you are in the square,you will notice and appreciate how everything fits together in perfect harmony.Many buildings in that ample urban space have been restored and rehabilitated for use by Government or Public Administration offices.Located between the old Medina and the modern city's commercial centre,the most important buildings are undoubtedly the
Palace of Justice, the French Consulate,the National Bank, the Prefecture and the
Post Office building.In the centre lies a beautiful fountain with scattered colourful water jets.
That square was developed is in Honor of the King Mohammed V,prominent member of the Alawite Dynasty,born in Rabat in the year 1927.
When his father the Sultan Yusuf died, he was the successor of the throne of Morocco.King Mohammed V is very famous because he supported the Moroccan independence movement and for that reason,the French authorities when the country was in that period a protectorate in the year 1953 forced him into exile on the island of Corsica and in 1954 he moved to Madagascar.
At the end of 1955 the future Monarch was allowed to return to Morocco and he was received by the population as a national hero.During the year 1956 France negotiated with him the independence of the country and the following year he became the sovereign of that Maghreb Kingdom.
The French Consulate is also in that square.The colonisation by France in Morocco,officially started in the year 1912, and in 1914 began the project to develop that urban area but the operations had to remove the military barracks located there.
Originally that corner of Casablanca was later military branch headquarter built in the year 1916,and despite having been designed as a military building,it has an appearance of bourgeois palace in Neo-Moorish style mixed with European decorative details.
In the gardens there is a statue depicting the famous Marshal Lyautey first Governor of the country,it is a work dated the 40s brought to the consulate in the 70's.
A peculiar curiosity about that work is that while in Casablanca there are statues of Kings,and in the Mosques there are representations of God,the statue of Lyautey is the only one in the entire city of a person you find in the city.
Currently the consulate serves mostly to issue visas to Europe,managing the needs of about 40,000 French citizens living in Casablanca who despite the Independence since that time continued to live there,apart other established in the city in more recent times and many of them opened several business companies in the city.
Wilaya which is also called Palace de la Prefecture is the Town Hall erected by the architect Marius Boyer, and inaugurated in the year 1937.
Recently restored to value the unusual wooden panelling,mosaics and colourful leather trim.the building is arranged around a central courtyard adorned by a splendid tropical garden and it is also famous for two monumental paintings by Jacques Majorelle the famous French artist who lived in Marrakech many years who decorates the main staircase.
The exhibition was held during the Heritage Days and presented at the Consulate by the famous French painter who came in Morocco for the first time in the year 1917, to cure a disease and fell in love with that land of Maghreb where he decided to live.(I wrote a post about Jardin Majorelle in the case you are interested and you want to know something about that artist).
Majorelle immediately loved everything about Morocco,its colours,smells,architecture,climate,aromas and he became famous for his portraits and landscapes of the country.
The exhibition is free,there are half a dozen of canvases and the visitor can learn different view of the country as it was so different for almost a century.A tower of 50 metres is one of its other highlights and once on top,it is possible to admire a unique and amazing panoramic view of the entire city.
With the building hosting the Bank of Morocco which is in front they form a corner of almost perfect architectonic and majestic urban symmetry.
The Town Hall is the last building which was built in the square when the architect Boyer won the assignment and the City Council moved to that place and replaced in its former site by the Conservatory of Casablanca.
The facade of the building is very famous because served as image of the famous Martin Scorsese movie Kundun, when the Dalai Lama is in the Tien An Men Square.
The Cathédrale de Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart Cathedral) is the former Catholic Cathedral in the city.
Thar Religious building it was erected in the year 1930 by the architect Paul Tournon who developed a work in Neo- Gothic style although it was completed in 1953 with some impressive decorative details pretty different.
After several uses,for many years that Christian Religious construction served as a conference centre and exhibition.The structure is 30 metres high and the architectonic aspect is a mixture of modern styles combining ,Art Deco Neo-Moorish styles,inspired by Islamic designs for stained glass using traditional techniques.
Tournon is the famous French architect who also built the Church of the Holy Spirit in the 12th district of Paris,he was also considered a very creative artist with a special talent to combine different architectonic details which were some of the main features of many of his works and that Church in Casablanca is definitely a very well represented example of his style.
The old Medina is The old Arab neighbourhood of the city surrounded by walls erected in the 16th century.It is a great place offering some fascinating attractions such as old stoned houses which rise between narrow streets,a place packed by a myriad of shops and stalls selling all kinds of products.
Very relevant are the gates of the Medina consisting in the access doors and called Bab El Bahr, Bab Jedid and Bab Marrakech.
Bab El Bahr which in a translation means the gate to the sea is situated next to Place Ahmed Bidaoui a picturesque square accessible by that gate directly to the Ocean.
Some years ago the entrance was located next door,but later due a new city restoration made an extension to accommodate the industrial port of Casablanca and that gate retook its importance and from there you can reach the Boulevard des Almoravids and the railway station.
Actually it is not not well preserved,keeping anyway its charm but it has a historic value simply remembering it was once one of the main gates of the old former Dar al-Baidaa and main door for the goods coming to provide the city markets in addition to be immediate passage for the several travellers who landed in Casablanca by sea and started to visit the city.
Next to Bab El Bahr,is situated the old customs house currently closed.Despite that,that construction is part of the cultural and historical heritage of Casablanca for the long period of activity in terms of trade of commerce.
Borj Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah is a fortress erected in the 18th century to protect the city from the frequent attacks.In the year 1770 the Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah ordered to rebuild the walls of the Medina and it was added to the Sqala which is the symbol of his Dynasty Kingdom.
The Sqala was a sort of defencive garrison,a fortification with a battery of guns developed in the 16th century drawing the famous fortifications of Vauban in France and it was considered in that time the main bastion of Casablanca.
The name Sqala gave his name to the port of call for sailors and the guns you can see served to defend the city just like in other Moroccan towns as Mogador and Essaouira which have Sqala too.
Part of the bastion was converted into a restaurant,offering a magnificent ample views over the Medina and the harbour protected by a breakwater artificially built in the early 20th century.
Another emblematic symbol next to that place is the Phare El Hank,a lighthouse erected in the year 1920 which provided the signals to the access to the harbour and it symbolises in its kind the city's economic success.
Leaving that area and walking towards the centre of the Medina on the right side you will note a sober building which is currently the headquarter of the Moroccan Workers' Party and during the colonial era was the governor's residence of the General Lyautey.
That French Officer commissioned several works for the development of the city and his residence during his stays in Casablanca was in that place.It is typical construction of the 10s and 20s with an outdoor balcony,it conserves some furniture of those times and currently it is mainly used for meetings and political events.
Dar Rabbi Haim Pinto is one of the few remaining Synagogues in Casablanca. There are two in the historic centre,one is by Bab Marrakech and the other one on the Boulevard de Bordeaux.
That Jewish Temple was opened in a traditional house of the Medina,where the Jews established the Mellah,the Jewish District.In the past there was a large community and during the 2nd World War, the Jews of Morocco were protected by the King who refused to obey to some orders to expel them.
That community was at that time an important column of the economic asset of the city with relevant artisans and traders but after the war, most of them went to live in Israel and USA.
In the old Medina of Casablanca, there are few public sources.There was once an entire street before the wall covered it with taps which distributed water to the inhabitants,a place where many women are even washing clothes,not having to bring all the water at home and then leave with a few containers for cleaning cleaning,cooking and domestic use.
The old Medina is a pretty humble area and many people have cut their water,so those taps are pretty needed.Some of the sources are really splendid with modern tiles and carved stones.
Despite today is less frequent than some years ago and water carriers is a job which is disappearing but from time to time in particular in summer season or when the temperatures are hotter some boys fills bottles and containers and then walking around the Medina they shout and they ask if someone wants to buy water and also that is cultural part of that captivating and diverse city.
The Central Market is one of the most visited places in Casablanca and it is a mandatory to come in deeply way in the culture of that centre.It is a very colourful and lively place,someone could consider it a place full of noise and a little bit chaotic but it is an iconic local symbol.
In that corner of Casablanca a place the visitor can find a multitude of products extremely desirable,such as fresh fruit, fish and seafood fresh directly coming from the Atlantic,vegetables,flowers and a myriad of items from spices to handmade objects,
In addition in that area after shopping you can sit to taste some delicious plates on the terrace of one of the local restaurants and the best speciality very suggested in that corner of Casablanca is the grilled or fried fresh fish.
To the east of the Medina you can come in the Art Deco district where you can admire several monuments which contribute to the special status and aspect of Casablanca.
Those stylish buildings mainly focus on the area bounded by Avenue Hassan II Boulevard Meskini and Boulevard Mohamed V in that latter which overflows of restaurants,some of which still retain the decoration of
the 20's and a curiosity..you can also enjoy a drink in the scenery
perfectly recreated the famous cafe in the movie Casablanca.
The park of the Arab League, down Avenue Hassan II is located just behind Place Mohamed V square when you move away from the centre and it is bounded by Avenue d´ Alger.
It is a beautiful green space developed in the year 1918 and among the favourites by locals who love to enjoy walks along its several wide promenades flanked by lined palm trees.
That park was originally called Lyautey Park,honouring the French Governor who commissioned several urban works in particular in the 20s.
The French architect Laprade
designed in that area a prison which was used in majority hosting war
prisoners and the creation of that huge green lung was an inspiration of a large French urban planner wanted to give the city a diverse aspect and an air similar to Paris,Marseille or Nice with new
green spaces for residents.
The famous Koubba is another attraction also well known in French language as La Coupole (the dome).It is a building at the corner of the Arab Ligue Park,currently it is the Palace of the Conferences and it represented the city of Rabat in the French exhibition dated 1915 celebrated in Casablanca.
In
the exposure time that area was not very populated where laid a
hundred temporary pavilions in which municipalities,French and Moroccan
industrialists had their activities.The metal structure of the pavilion
was a little later transported to the park.
Together with the small building on the horticultural society,the Koubba was also small theatre before being converted by pupils of the Cultural Association of Casablanca.
The Casablanca High School of Fine Arts is next to the park,it was opened in 1919 and it previously hosted the the headquarter of Municipality Services.In the year 1956 after Morocco Independence became the residence of the First Governor of Casablanca and currently it is the School of Fine Arts,you can visit the garden which is decorated with artistic works by students.
West of the Medina,you can reach Place de la Comedie, a square in which takes place a lively market and and with gardened area in the centre of which stands the Sidi Bou Koubba Smara.
Sidi Bou Smara,it is a Mausoleum and the Moroccans believe much in that kind of Sghour which is like witchcraft,and ascribe to each Holy person extraordinary powers.
Sidi Bou Smara was a Holy Man who took care of autistic children and people in difficult.To heal children according ancient traditions,it said they have to sleep with an egg under the pillow and in the morning the mothers took them to that place,along with the egg.
The mums and the children put a nail in the wall of that site so the spirits of evil were imprisoned there.So that place is a wall full of nails and next door there is a work of art in a tree with nails as well. The square took the name from that charismatic and prominent figure and you enjoy there excellent Tajine or a delicious Couscous.
Between the Medina and the new town you can reach Place des Nations Unies (United Nations Square) square),very impressive for the presence of a clock tower built in the year 1911In that point you are at the the culmination of all the main Casablanca arteries an it is an area packed by restaurants,bars,cafes,Hotels, stores and banks.
The New Medina is located south of the city,in the neighbourhood of Habous which is the most recent district,known with the name Quartier des Habous,which means district of the holy men.
That city area is very nice neighbourhood of Casablanca,a district which was developed in 1920 by Albert Laprade and the goal was to replace the older one considered deteriorated and in total decadence.
All the major buildings such as the Royal Palace and Govern Administrative Institutions moved there and all and it took a pleasant aspect.
That neighbourhood despite is not very visited and modern still retains a sense of tradition through its Moorish architecture revival and it is also a perfect place to enjoy interesting shopping activities and to discover the modern life of Casablanca.
Entirely designed according to a traditional model,with its squares,its many craft shops and arcades,it is very interesting to admire some very interesting buildings and one of them is the Mahkama which is the Pacha Palace.
Ir is a construction in Adalusian-Moorish style erected using marble and timber, it has approximately 60 rooms and it served as a Court and lobby for the former Pasha of Casablanca while currently it is used as an official court providing furthermore spaces for banquet facilities.
The Mosque Moulay Ali Kettani which was built in the early 20th century is one of the Religious buildings of that quarter developed when the old Medina was neither safe nor clean and the French Protectorate decided to move the administration and the inhabitants to that new borough.
Behind the Mosque Moulay Ali Kettani,there are some pedestrian narrow alleys leading to the the new Mosque.In those streets you can see beautiful residences,some of them charming and comfortable Riads.
Some of them are located in captivating and picturesque cobblestone streets showing,charming arched doors,columns with capitals placed in captivating patios and magnificent decorated facades with zellij and Sebka details.
The local houses are mainly white,painted with lime and Cadi Chraibi is one of the most relevant streets with its splendid buildings with painted wooden doors.
In the district worth a visit the Souk Zitoun,also called in French Marché des olives.It is the Souk representing the market of the olives,consisting in a wide courtyard accessible by a street and boarding some stores which only sell olives of different size and quality green,black,with or without seeds,there is much to choose.
Apart that kind of product which is the main highlight there is also a wide variety of homemade honeys coming from each region.Generally people of other neighbourhoods comes to that place Habbous once a month to do shopping and to fill the fridge buying a lot of those very fresh products.
Derb Sultan is just behind and you can find there an area with little factories making custom suits and that place it is known as the Souk of the Craftsmen.
Habous in Arabic means neighbourhood of common law and for that is a set of small shops,and each trader owns some of the buildings and free to do business in that neighbourhood and also that is another symbol of the captivating and diverse Casablanca.
Le Palais Royale (The Royal Palace) is also located in that Casablanca quarter,the square of the esplanade in front of the building is forbidden to the public.
That majestic construction is the 2nd residence of the King of Morocco,since he lives in the political capital, Rabat,despite that the Monarch has received many personalities in that place,one of them was the Pope John Paul II in the year 1985 in occasion of his first visit to a Muslim country.
That imposing building is an architectonic jewel arranged on a vast
rectangular plan and it boasts about 60 rooms organised around beautiful
courtyards.with the view of that Palace you can recall the architecture of the beautiful Andalusia
and Marrakech.
In the court are usually pronounce the divorce,some
Moroccans call that place the Palace of the divorce and surrounding that
splendid masterpiece there is a complex of high walls to protect the
privacy of the Sovereign.
For its stylish silhouette and value linked to the Sovereign it is considered one of the emblematic icon of that Maghreb Kingdom and a landmark of thee city.
That area is a popular district just behind the New Medina.It is a second heart of the city,an
area plenty of shops,with several people coming from different
neighbourhoods of Casablanca to visit tailors,specialists in suit tailor
made,but also to buy from the several stalls of ,fruit and
vegetables.
That place is also ideal to purchase,slippers,teacups,teapots and
particularly frequented because it is cheaper than other places in the
city centre,furthermore there is also a market famous for traditional remedies homemade and creams to cure any disease.
At the end of the market there are some houses with old women
sitting and inviting people to come.They want to read the hand or
reading the cards to predict the future,telling people if they will be
marry or if it is not time,luck in love and life or if you expect a
disaster.
The Moroccans believe much in that,and many consult those
ladies who are considered saviour and excellent in their predictions.
Some of them make an henna
a decorations on the foot, hand,or any other body part,traditionally,it is in the hand,for a wedding or any important occasion.The longer
you leave it,the darker the ink will stay longer,you can become a way a
kind of temporary tattoo,also that is part of the local culture which hide a multitude of fascinating secrets
all to discover.
The Mosque Mohammadi is the centre of Religious life in the district and it is probably the main Mosque
Mosque in the neighbourhood of Habbous.
That building is very large,as if it had been thought to be the main Religious centre in
the entire city but as the end of the district remained popular from the
centre of Casablanca, and there is often many people who decides to go to
pray in that Sacred Temple.
In front of the Mosque,there are are the Jardins Habbous,gardens which were developed in the year 1920 to
offer a verdant space to the residents.
It contains several fountains,benches and several
trees,it was developed in an a space which occupies a large esplanade and it is considered by locals as a sort of oasis of relax and
ideal place to enjoy a break.You can see there people sitting there playing cards under the
trees,groups of young people having a chat and also others enjoying
jogging.
n the New Medina,you can see Christian Church,called Notre Dame de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes) which has as highlights some beautiful stained glass windows designed by Gabriel Loire.
It is a large construction with great decorations on its sides and the exterior is a sort of reproduction of the famous Church of Lourdes in Southern France but in a very small size.
The Corniche is one of the most visited areas of the city.You can find there nice houses,a network of good Hotels,excellent beaches and above all a great atmosphere both day and nights with bars,clubs and cabarets shows.
It is a place in which since the 30s, has always had a very active and lively nightlife with a sense of fun and glamour during the times of the French Protectorate which has spread now to the local seaside resorts.
Along the Corniche you can breathe a true cosmopolitan atmosphere and a relevant detail is that in that district about the 40% of the residents are not Moroccans.
That area was mainly developed by French citizens and the visitor can often have the impression of walking along the coast of one of some cities of the French Riviera such as Antibes,Cannes,Nice or Saint-Tropez.
The Corniche of Ain-Diab, is situated between Le Phare El Hank (the lighthouse) and the Marabout de Sidi Bou Abderrahmane,a place which is only accessible in conditions of low tide.
That place is known as one of the most
important religious sites in Morocco,appointed as the site of the
remains of numerous historic Moroccan holy figures.
Located just outside
of town,on a small island,perched on a rock surrounded by the ocean,it
is a white-domed tomb attracting many pilgrims who believe in the power
of spiritual healing possessed by them.
You can only access it
when the tide is low and some archaeological discoveries have shown that
settlements existed there in prehistoric times.
That coastal area is the resort annexed to Casablanca and there you will find swimming pools,public or private beaches,furthermore it is a beautiful site suggested to photographers to take splendid pictures at sunset from the panoramic terrace.
Along that splendid maritime stretch you can find Megarama which is the largest Cinema of Casablanca and one of the largest in Africa.
Built on the promenade at the height of the district of Ain Diab,it is a modern structure with several halls,some have giant screens and it is the only cinema in the city offering movies in three dimensions,most of them translated into French,few in original version with subtitles.
Megarama is a huge white complex in which the visitor can also find restaurants,bars and some shops.Close to that impressive building you can see Abdulaziz Al Saud Mosque and behind it there is the House of the King of Saudi Arabia.
Anfa is one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods of Casablanca and it is the ancient name of the former city the place famous wgen the Portuguese rulers saw the famed "Casa Branca" the white house which gave the name to the city.
The neighbourhood was built on the remains on the surface of the first local settlement.Without comparisons that place it is like a North African Croisette of Cannes with charming white houses,lots of a very pleasant place to stroll,enjoying the view of buildings which were mostly built in the 60s and 70s by the best European architects of that time and many of them overlooking the sea.
It is considered a privileged place for expatriates and from there you can take Avenue Kennedy which is is a wide,elegant boulevard which leads directly to the sea.
The Jardins Driss Slaoui are beautiful gardens located in the district,not far from the Velodrome,taking the direction to the beach by Boulevard Roosevelt,it is a cool and nice place because it blows a little wind from the sea,they are very well maintained, much more than other areas next to the Atlantic.
The central building where gardeners have their tools and having a rest is a curious modernist style typical of the neighbourhood as in Casablanca brought many architects in the 50s and 60s, from Europe to develop houses and public buildings in modern style and you can see all that nowadays.
The district of Ain Diab is situated the end of the Corniche,with boardwalk where there is a good number of bars and trendy clubs,If you are in Casablanca downtown you can reach that quarter by the bus number 9 from the city centre.
Core of the local entertainment,it has a famed beach,the first in which you can swim from the centre,there are not many rocks and it provides private spaces,there are also pools,some Hotels and a wide number of restaurants.
Generally on that beach in weekends there are many young boys from different neighbourhoods to play beach-football and many surfers are placed a little further along the coast waiting for the best waves.
In summer the beach is crowded by families,next there are several bars and the atmosphere is pretty cosmopolitan,apart tourists of different nationality,it is is pretty easy to find in its vicinity ethnic restaurants and establishments specialising in Moroccan cuisine.
Later,at night clubs open their doors with the lively nights of Casablanca sound to rage as local music but there are styles for all ears.
The prolongation of the city resort provides a succession of artificial beaches directly from the sea.Very crowded during the weekends,the Corniche is the meeting place of people looking for a relaxing chat watching the sunset,enjoying comfortable cafes installed on the terraces.
Outside the city if you want to know other beaches there are some places very interesting. Paloma is a beautiful sandy beach, at low tide where it is usual to see many people going there in the early morning to collect mussels and fishing and it is a place really fascinating.
Following the coast northward,you will meet Mohammedia which is a great seaside resort which includes a marina,a golf course and luxury Hotels.
Approximately 33,0 kilometres from Mohammedia there is Bouznika, one of the most prestigious Spa resorts on the Atlantic coast with its superb beaches,such as Dar Bouazza and other several private beaches.
The harbour of Casablanca is one of the places which characterises the city,a leading port,it refers to the collective facilities and terminals which conduct maritime trade and navigation and it is the most important of the country and one of the largest artificial ports in the World.
Casablanca has its twin towers,you can see at the corner of Boulevard Zerktoni and Massira Al Khadra,over 100 metres high the Twin Centre dominates the entire city.
That imposing complex consisting in two impressive skyscrapers is a modern highlight of the modern Casablanca,the West Tower and the East Tower which have 28 floors each and they were built by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill.
Around them are arranged a wide network of trendy,luxurious boutiques and international brands.The left tower is a Hotel while the right tower is rented by various offices and some branches of international companies.
Behind the central core there is the Maarif Twin, a popular shopping district well known and frequented by locals and at the foot of the towers there are several stores within a small shopping centre.
Worth a visit the Jewish Museum of Casablanca,situated in a suburb among the most pleasant in the surroundings of the city and housed in a purpose building.
Inside you can discover the history of the Jews in Morocco,displaying artifacts,paintings,objects of daily life, photos and other items.In the history of Morocco the Jewish community was mainly formed by artisans and there are many examples of their work.
One of the most important subject the museum offers is also the history of the large migration of Jews from and to Morocco including France,Israel,Spain,Portugal and USA.
Art House is situated in a neighbourhood called Oasis and also worth a visit because it is a very original building,a big house where every room make artistic activities.
Run by a French-Moroccan couple the activities offered are multiples,such as exhibits of photos,paintings, African and Salsa dance classes,galleries with musical instruments,sculpture,drawing and furthermore Art House also organises from time to time concerts and events too.
You can find in Casablanca an excellent cuisine,traditional and obviously also highlighted by fish and seafood very common in Morocco,especially in coastal areas as Casablanca and it is usually eaten boiled or fried.
A traditional Moroccan recipe called Sharmoola is a mixture of marinated fish and crushed olives,coriander leaves,parsley,onions, pepper,ginger all that combined with lemon juice and salt.
Another speciality is a stew called Dafina served with lemons.The famed Couscous as in all Maghreb is one of the typical local plate of its original name is Kasksou Baddaz,small balls of semolina steamed in special containers accompanied by vegetables,meat,poultry and also with fish.
Among the most popular meat in Moroccan cuisine is the lamb and to a large extent, poultry,especially chicken.
The most famous chicken plates are the Djej Msharmal and Quadra.Despite the beef is not so popular excellent is the Khelea consisting in ground beef and it is very similar to Turkish Bastourma.Very typical is also the Mashwi which is marinated lamb in Berber-style barbecue generally accompanied by mashwi kwah a kind of kebab with lamb liver and another delicious plate containing lamb in its preparation is the Mrouzia.
A very popular speciality is the so called Tanzhiyya well known with the popular name Tajine you can find in many part in Europe and in the World in typical Maghrebi restaurants.
The name comes from the pot in which is prepared and one of the best known is the Briouates,very typical in Casablanca.People drink tea mint the traditional Atay in different time of the day,a drink is part of social life indoor and outdoor.
Casablanca's main airport is Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco's busiest airport. Regular domestic flights serve Marrakech, Rabat, Agadir, Oujda, and Tangier,Laayoune as well as other cities.
Casablanca is well served by international flights to and from Europe,it has regular connections to North American Airports,Middle Eastern and sub Saharan African.Destinations as New York City,Dakar and Dubai are among the most important.
Casablanca is a modern city with a rich heritage,a mixture of new and old captivating and diverse where it is very interesting to discover its several contrasts so different than Marrakech,Fez or Rabat.
You can consider Casablanca is in some aspects all Morocco in a place.A splendid maritime city,so lively and animated in its traditional Medina,attractive for its nightlife with its several elegant clubs and trendy venues
It is also very interesting in the most humble areas where a group of boys wants to sell you a simple bottle of water or an old man asking you if you want to buy some spices,olives or fresh dates.
That city is a multitude of shining lights at night along the most famous avenues flanked by majestic,elegant and stylish buildings but it is also the image the picturesque old Souks and markets with a myriad of exotic products,flavours and smells,narrow streets,lively during the day and very quiet and empty at night.
Inspiring stops admiring the sunsets at Sqala or enjoying a relaxing walk in Parc de la Ligue Arabe or simply to stay along La Corniche looking at the endless horizon of the Ocean listening from far a melancholic and captivating Rai or Chaabi Music sounds are part of that big intriguing city of that of Maghreb Kingdom.
Casablanca inspired as set celebrated movies which fascinated the world,but it is the daily life with the view of handcarts transporting citrons at a short distance of a luxury modern skycraper.
After all that you can also think about the history of a place which was often land of conquest in which many people escaped trying to find a safe refuge far from there and today that place it is the economic Capital of the Kingdom of Morocco with over six millions of inhabitants..
All that is Casablanca so captivating,so diverse and with a multitude of more exciting things all to offer and delighting you.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Casablanca
Hotel & Spa Le Doge Relais & Chateaux
Hotel Hyatt Regency Casablanca
Hotel Le Royal Mansour Meridien
Hotel Kenzi Tower
Hotel Galia
Hotel Husa Plaza Casablanca
Hotel Art & Spa Casablanca
This exhibition is a great event to discover new products and exhibitors latest technological solutions in the industry.You can learn more about the conduct of market trends from leisure to business tourism thanks to the impressive range of destinations present and the professional will have the opportunity to create new platforms in outgoing and also in incoming with new creative ideas. 
This exhibition is a great event to discover new products and exhibitors latest technological solutions in the industry.You can learn more about the conduct of market trends from leisure to business tourism thanks to the impressive range of destinations present and the professional will have the opportunity to create new platforms in outgoing and also in incoming with new creative ideas. 
