Although
Casablanca lies on the Atlantic Ocean and not
the Mediterranean, our travels included this
port of call, so we include it here. Morocco
lies only 13 kilometers from Spain across the
Gibraltar Strait. Casablanca is Morocco's
largest city and chief port.
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Although not as grand as Morocco's
imperial cities (Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and Rabat) Casablanca
has its own charm as a combination of Moorish village,
Portuguese seaport, and French colonial showcase.
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Under the king of Morocco's supervision,
Casablanca is undergoing a major cultural and architectural
transformation. Shopping malls, residential complexes, and a
marina are in the works. |
Surrounding Place
Mohamed V, are buildings from the 1900's French Colonial
era including the
Mahkama du Pacha, the Wilaya and the Grande Poste
office.
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CasArts, a new performing arts center, under construction
during our visit, will open soon.
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In the Souk marketplace, vendors sell
spices, olives, hookahs, lamps, silver jewellery, sandals
and Arabic dresses called Galabey.
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On street corners
there can be various merchants such as fruit-growers,
water-sellers, knife-sharpeners, tea-brewers or herbalists.
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The old medina is an intriguing area
of narrow lanes, tree-shaded squares and well-frequented local
cafes.
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Carpet weaving and
selling are deeply
embedded traditions.
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The city's French
colonial legacy is seen in its downtown Mauresque
architecture, a blend of Moorish style and European art
deco.
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United Nations Square
is an important gathering place marking the intersection of
the old medina and the modern European construction.
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There is an air of hustle, disorder
and grime that frightens some tourists, but beneath these,
we found hidden beauties and kind-hearted people.
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The Hassan II Mosque
is the main attraction in Casablanca. Built in the 1990's,
it is the largest mosque in Africa, and has the highest
minaret in the world.
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details of the tiled
minaret |
details of the marble
ablutions room |
details of the ornate interior
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The Mosque highlights the exquisite materials and skilled
workmanship of Morocco's artisans.
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The Museum of Islamic Art displays
painting, tile, and woodwork characteristic of Islamic
visual arts.
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The busy port of
Casablanca can handle 35 large ships at one time as well as
serving as a landing for a fleet of small fishing trawlers.
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