Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and is known as the country’s industrial and economic capital.  It historically supported a large Jewish community, but since Moroccan independence from the French in 1956, emigration has reduced this number to just a few thousand.  Many synagogues however remain.  In the 15th century, the small town became a safe haven for pirates, and consequently the Portuguese destroyed it in 1468.  By 1515, the Portuguese built a fortress on these ruins, calling it “Casablanca” meaning “white house”.  Over the following years, a town grew around this fortress, but in 1755 a devastating earthquake destroyed it once more.  The 19th century saw the town become an important supplier to Britain’s growing textile industry, and today it is the largest port in North Africa. 

See:

• Hassan II Mosque – Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, this modern mosque is located in a dramatic setting overlooking the Atlantic.  It is the second largest in the world, accommodating over 100,000 worshippers inside and within the courtyard.  The minaret is the world’s tallest at 210m, and the mosque features a glass floor over the sea in reference to a passage from the Koran that states “the throne of God was built on the water”.
• Architecture – Hispano-Mauresque and Art Deco architecture blend in Ville Nouvelle, a planned modern town by French architect Henri Prost. The disused Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur, built in 1930, on the edge of the large Parc de la Ligue Arabe is a good example of Mauresque (also known as Neo-Moorish or Moorish Revival) architecture.  There are fine examples of French Colonial architecture at Mohammed V Square in the heart of the city.

Experience:

• Beaches – Although they may not be particularly clean, the beaches here are very popular.  People are attracted to the recreational activities, cafes and restaurants perhaps more so than the beach itself.
• Central Market – This typical African-style market is where fresh Atlantic seafood is sold alongside locally grown fresh fruit and flowers.

Secrets of the City:

• Immortalised in the Hollywood film of the same name, Casablanca invokes very different images to other Moroccan cities.  However, none of the film was actually produced here.