Casablanca Travel Guide
Travel to Casablanca - The City of a Thousand and One Faces
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Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital and modern metropolis, offers visitors an equally rare experience. This can be touched through its wide boulevards of ultra-modern, art deco or Hispano-Moorish buildings, parks, squares and public fountains and sandy beaches along the Atlantic coast.
The city of Casablanca is a unique blend of east and west, a subtle balance between tradition and modern. Casablanca also offers other cultural and leisure riches such as the remarkable Hassan II Mosque. Casablanca's nightlife is known as one of the liveliest in the country.
The origins of Casablanca trace to the medieval town of Anfa set on a small plateau which is now one of the city's suburbs. Anfa became the capital of a Berber principality in the aftermath of the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. The city was conquered by the Almoravids in 1068, then came under the influence of the Merinids during the 13th century. In the early 15th century, Casablanca became an independent state once again, and emerged as a safe harbour for pirates and privateers, leading to it being targeted by the Portuguese, who destroyed the town in 1468.
In 1575 the town was rebuilt, fortified and renamed Casa Branca by the Portuguese in an attempt to establish control over the area. However, the Portuguese rulers fell under constant attack by surrounding Muslim tribes and were finally forced to abandon the town following a terrible earthquake in 1755.
The town was finally reconstructed by sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah (1756-1790), the grandson of Moulay Ismail and ally of George Washington. The town was called Dar el Beida (white house) in Arabic and Casa Blanca in Spanish. Casablanca was occupied by the French in 1907 until Morocco achieved independence in 1956.
Attractions in Casablanca
Visitors to Casablanca have a wide range of attractions. Among them, there is the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque outside Mecca and a truly monumental one with its minaret of 200 metres; the old quarter, where colours, scents and impressions take over the senses; the Habous district, punctuated by attractive little shaded squares and narrow streets lined with arcades; Notre Dame de Loudes Church, a monumental concrete sculpture dating from the 50's; The Place Mohamed V, a square in the centre of the city with nice examples of French Colonial Architectur ; and the new medina, Morocco's most exclusive and elegant, with stone arcades.
Activities in Casablanca
Casablanca, with its everyday dynamism, is actually a great destination for sun and fun worshippers; those who are looking for an unparalleled good time. During the day, city visitors can enjoy sunbathing or surfing at one of its beautiful beaches or go shopping in its old medina and modern boulevards.
The city also has private swimming pools all along the corniche where travellers can enjoy time in a convivial atmosphere to the sound of relaxing and upbeat tracks. As the sun sets, Casablanca transforms into a big party scene thanks to its prestigious nightlife. The city offers a wide range of fashionable restaurants, lounges, and pubs.
Relaxing
Head for the corniche of Casablanca or one of the beautiful beaches in the vicinity.
Getting Around
Petits and grands taxis are available all over the city.
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