Casablanca
Most often, the most interesting and attractive tourist cities in a given country are its heart - the capital. It is different in Morocco, although it cannot be denied that Rabat, which serves as the capital, is also beautiful and worth seeing. However, there is a city that is bigger and, for many people, much more interesting, and that is the famous Casablanca.
Everyone knows its name, even if they don't know exactly what country it is located in or why it is really famous. Over 70 years ago, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman , icons of cinema and heroes of melodrama that are now considered cult, walked its streets. Whether a work created in the golden age of Hollywood is really so brilliant - everyone can judge for themselves. Nevertheless, the city that provided the background for the film's love story is beautiful and worth visiting, even though it has changed beyond recognition since the filming of "Casablanca".
Casablanca 70 years later
The titular Casablanca is located in the western part of Morocco, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In the past, it went through several periods of rapid development and destruction, and today it surprises tourists with its size and modernity. Because it must be admitted that this modernity dominates the city's architecture. A tourist who has decided to visit the monuments and feel the atmosphere of an old Moroccan town must make some effort.
When visiting the city, it is worth going to the Quartier Habous , a new medina built in the 1930s. Here we will see both history and modernity, woven together in a unique combination of traditional architecture and European glitz. It's noisy, crowded, noisy, colorful, and at every step you'll come across sellers of various trinkets and souvenirs. People who lack assertiveness will also quickly run out of money.
A more ancient past, undisturbed by modernity, can be found in the old medina, surrounded by walls protecting against the hustle and bustle. Tourists who want to calm down for a moment and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life can peacefully wander the alleys of the old town, sipping mint tea.
According to experienced travelers, the medina and its surroundings are the safest for both tourists' wallets and the tourists themselves. There are not too many faux guides here, like in Marrakesh, ready to "help" the lost at any time. On the outskirts of the old town there are the cheapest restaurants, cafes and pubs where you can eat delicious Moroccan dishes for a low price. Those who do not like experiments and prefer to eat meals familiar to their European stomachs will easily find a restaurant with a menu prepared to their tastes. Of course, correspondingly more expensive.
City attractions
Casablanca's most famous monument is the monumental Hassan II Mosque , a gigantic structure surpassed only by one pearl of Islamic architecture, the Mecca Mosque. An interesting fact is that after dark, a laser beam is sent from the top of the temple towards Mecca, visible from a distance of approximately 30 km.
The impressive structure of the Hassan II Mosque outshines the beauty of the rest of the city's monuments, and its minaret is the tallest in the world - 200 meters high. The mosque stands proudly on the very shore of the Atlantic, and you can admire its interior for hours, walking with your head up (and often with your mouth open in admiration). It is also worth looking under your feet, because in some places you can see the sea under the glass floor. The mosque was built at the meeting point of three elements - partly it stands on the ground, partly above the water, and the third element stretches over the heads of visitors when a special mechanism opens the roof of the structure. One might get the impression that in spacious interiors the echo would answer every word. The mosque is one of the few temples in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. It can only be visited with a guide.
What else is worth seeing while in Casablanca? If we have more time, we can arrange to visit the Mahkam du Pacha Palace . It can only be visited with a guide, after prior notification at the tourist information. The palace was built in the 1950s, but it looks much older. With a large main courtyard and two smaller ones, built with great splendor visible not only in its dimensions but also in its decorations, it is an example of ancient Moroccan architecture - lush and dripping with decorations.
It is also worth noting that there is a Jewish Museum in the city. This is the only place of its kind not only in Morocco, but also in other Muslim countries. Tourists have the opportunity to learn about the history of the country's Jewish community from Roman times until independence, when Jews emigrated for fear of persecution.
Where to stay?
Those who are so enchanted by the beauty of Moroccan architecture and culture that they want to devote more time to it will probably wonder about a place to stay. Both in the vicinity of Casablanca and in the city itself, you should have no problems finding a suitable campsite. On average, for a stay of 2 people and a parking space for a vehicle, we will pay approximately MAD 50, i.e. approximately PLN 18.70. Not far from the city (approx. 7 km) there is Camp de Mediouna, where you can park your camper. We will relax in the beautiful surroundings, taste local dishes and be close to the monuments of Casablanca and other attractions.
After visiting the city, you can move on, on a trip through Morocco. Simple but delicious cuisine filled with aromatic spices, as well as wonderful landscapes full of delicious mosques and colors - all this is waiting for us, promising unforgettable experiences and lots of memories.
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A writer by profession, a passion of a cat. One day he will see what is behind the Urals - good to Vladivostok. So far, when he can, he enjoys the sun of the countries of southern Europe. And it's also fun;)
