Cities and History

Cities

RABAT: The Royal City

Morocco’s capital city of Rabat is steeped in history and many traces of its colorful past are still visible. The extraordinary fortifications stretching over several kilometers, from the medina (old town) to the lasbah in the Oudayas, and the Chella necropolis lend it a special character.

(Rabat Mosque)

(Agadir Beach Club)

(picture taken from http://kimbriggs.com/photos/morocco/agadir-beach-club/, Thank you Kim)

AGADIR: the Atlantic Seaside Resort

In 1505, the Portuguese built a small fort here and prosperity came only thirty-five years later in 1540, under the reign of the Saadian sultans. The city was rebuilt after being almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1960. With 300 days of sunshine a year and a mild climate all year long, Agadir has become Morocco’s leading seaside resort

CASABLANCA: Historic Centre of Trade

Called Anfa by its very first inhabitants, the Berbers, Casablanca was then home to pirates, Portuguese settlers and Spanish traders (who gave the city its present name). In the 1920s, Casablanca experienced considerable prosperity and became the leading commercial port of Morocco. Today Casablanca forms the heart of the commercial, industrial and financial life of the Kingdom

ERRACHIDIA: Palm Groves and Gorges

This city is located at the crossroads of this surprising Southeastern region. A full array of paradoxical sites are intricately intertwined in the region. The snow-covered peaks of the High Atlas contrast with its amazing sand dunes and incredibly green palm groves that dot the river valleys.

Errachidia offers a wealth of historical monuments and mausoleums. Confirming its connection to the Ksours and Kasbahs

ESSAOUIRA: City of Legends

Its original 15^th century name, Amogdoul, was later changed by the Portuguese to Magador. In 1764, Mogador adopted its current Arabic name, Essaouira (image or wall). This city spreads across a natural peninsula on the Atlantic coast. Because of its moderate climate throughout the year, Essaouira has always been a desirable destination. They city boasts numerous year-round traditional dance festivals, art galleries, and international music festivals featuring traditional Moroccan music, World music and Jazz

(Essaouira Old City)

(Fez Royal Palace)

FEZ: The Eternal City

Founded in the year 789, Fez is Morocco’s oldest imperial city. Several dynasties ruled here as testified by the city’s many monuments. Fez has always been religious, cultural and artistic centre of the Kingdom. Its famous 9^th century university mosque, El Qaraouiyn, is one of the oldest universities in the Arab Islamic world. The old quarter of Fez El Bali is amazing because of its numerous narrow, intertwining streets, historical relics and suks (markets). The inhabitants of Fez still live according to centuries old traditions.

LAAYOUNE: Capital of The South

The city of Laayoune lies on the left bank of Saguia El Hamra on the two neighboring plateaus. Although only 20 kilometers from the coast, it is only recently that this city has come into its own in its true capacity of a centre for maritime activities and tourism. Formerly an oasis, today Laayoune has become the main economic focus of Southern Morocco

(Tangier)

TANGIER: City of Light

Situated at the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, Tangier proudly sits on the heights of the Straits of Gibraltar. Proximity to Europe, just 14 kilometers away, since antiquity has made it a privileged springboard for relations with that continent. In the 1940s Tangier attracts a considerable number of foreign artists and writers who contributed to making it a legend in their works. At maritime and cultural crossroads, Tangier is Morocco’s leading tourist part and an important shipping stop-over between the continents of Europe and Africa

MARRAKECH: Pearl of the South

Founded in the 11^th century Marrakech is the Kingdom’s second imperial city after Fez. “The Pearl of the South” charms visitors with its monuments and colour contrasts: the green of the palm trees, the red earth color of the facades of the homes, and the white of the snowy mountain tops of the High Atlas. Its attractions include the Koutoubia Mosque, which was completed in 1199 and features a 70-meter high minaret, and the Palm Grove, stretching out over 13,000 hectares and containing more than 150,000 palm trees

(Djama el Fna)

(Medrasa Bou Inania)

MEKNAS

The Bab El Mansour in Meknes is the finest of Morocco’s collection of city gates. It is immense, perfectly proportioned, and richly decorated with green and white ceramic. The central bay, where the gateway itself is set, is flanked by squat bastions similarly decorated and partly supported by elegant marble columns. The decoration is based on a traditional pattern called darj w ktarf, meaning “cheek and shoulder”. The mosaic work is elaborate and richly colored. There are also layers of cutaway black tiles, and the ornamental inscriptions surmounting the whole include the claim that there is no gate in the Islamic world of the 17^th century that can be called its equal

OTHER CITIES AND REGIONS