Casablanca - the largest city in Morocco



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Hassan II mosque, Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah
Designed by French Architect Michel Pinseau, the Hassan II mosque is a magnificent edifice which was erected on a rocky platform reclaimed from the sea. It was commissioned by King HassanII on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The Mosque was inaugurated on August 30th 1993. It can accommodate 25000 worshippers within its walls and an additional 80,000 in its grounds. The Mosque unlike other mosques is open to people of all religions. It is has a 175 meter (575 feet) tall minaret which rises like a beacon and illuminates a laser beam at night in the direction of Mecca. The call for prayer is also issued from the minaret. The prayer hall is elaborately decorated with mosaic tiles and carvings and three story high Venetian Crystal Chandeliers. The marble for the mosque came from Agadir and the granite from Tafraoute. It is a high tech mosque with a retractable roof, central heating and glass flooring. The mosque was built at a cost of $500 million dollars which was raised from the public in the form of donations. It is a symbol of national pride amongst most Moroccans save those who were evicted from the area without compensation to enable the construction of the mosque.

Lusitania
The old Jewish quarter of Morocco is the abode of the 6000-7000 Jews who reside in Casablanca . They have their own Jewish schools and a synagogue called Benarroch at the corner of Rue Rousseau which is the principal synagogue of the city. The district contains the largest Jewish population of North Africa.

Old Medina Central, Casablanca
This is the old Arab town which is encircled by a wall; it is a maze of narrow streets with shops selling spices and many other wonders.

The Parc de La Ligue Arabe
The Parc de la Ligue Arab is a thick wooded park which is the largest park in the city and is located at the edge of the Cathedral of Sacre Coeur. The Cathedral was built in the European style with Moroccan accents. It served as a school but now stands abandoned.

The Port, Central Casablanca
Casablanca has the largest and the busiest port in Morocco. It has many deep water quays and is the center of trade for most of North Africa. Cruise liners, Tankers, Container carriers all call at the port. A shopping center called Centre 2000 near the port is worth a visit too.

Ain Diab
The beachfront at Ain Diab must be visited as well. A day pass is to be purchased to enter the beach. A number of nightclubs and bars line the ocean front corniche. There are public beaches as well which are frequented by locals and private beach clubs such as the Miami club where entrance has to be purchased. Clubs such as these are frequented by both foreigners and rich and less traditional Moroccans.

New Medina, South Casablanca
The new medina is located in the south of the city and can be accessed by a 10 minute taxi ride from the Place des Unis. It was built by the French as a solution to a housing crisis in the 1930s. It is clean and orderly and has shops selling souvenirs and fresh produce. The New Medina is also known as the ‘Quartier des Habous’ or District of Holy men.

The Marabout
The Marabout is a burial site on an island outside the city. The burial site consists of white domed tombs which are rumored to contain the remains of holy men. This a popular site visited by pilgrims who believe a pilgrimage to the tombs enables spiritual healing.

Borj Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah
The remains of the 18th century fortress are located at the end of the Old Medina. The fortress was built to repel attacks by the Portuguese.

The Grand Mosque
This beautiful mosque was built by Sultan Mohammed Ibn in the 19th century to commemorate the defeat of the Portuguese at Anfa.

Hotels
Casablanca has a variety of Hotels to suit a budget. Luxury hotels like the Hyatt Regency at the Place des Unis (212-2)26-1234 are modern with contemporary amenities expected in a hotel such as this. There is also a Meridien at the Royal Mansour which is located on 27, Avenue de L’armee Royale, (212-2)31-30-12 . This charming hotel is built in the Moroccan style with Moroccan accents such as arches, pillars and mosaic tiles. More moderately priced hotels are the Excelsior (212-2) 20-02-63 near the Old Medina and the Hotel Bellerive (212-2)39-14-09 which is on the ocean front and is an exponent of the art deco architecture. Another popular hotel on the beach is the Hotel de la Corniche (212-2)36-10-11. Hotel Indou Anfa (212-2)22-00-35 is a moderately priced luxurious hotel on Boulevard d’Anfa with a panoramic roof top bar.

Restaurants and Nightlife
Moroccan cuisine is composed of slow cooked meats or lentils stews called tagines. Couscous rice like accompaniment is also typical of Moroccan cuisine. The meal is often topped with flaky pastry made with almonds and pistachios and sprinkled sugar called Pastilles. Excellent Moroccan cuisine can be sampled at restaurants like Al Mounia on Rue du Prince Moulay- Abdallah, Ryad Zitoun at Blvd Rachidi and Imilchil on Rue Vizir Tazi. A good restaurant for fresh seafood is Taverne du Dauphin on Blvd Houphouet –Boigny. Au Petit Poucet is a restaurant which was frequented by aviator and writer Antoine de St-Exupery. It is adorned with his sketches and is on 86, Blvd Mohammed V.

The nightlife is concentrated in the bars and clubs that line the oceanfront and are frequent by the European Jet set as well as wealthy locals. These are expensive and here the partying goes on until the wee hours of the morning. Some of these Bars and clubs are The Fandango, La Cafconce, Le Balcon 33, Le Tube and L’Armstrong.

To cater to cinephiles and to recreate the mythical Ricks Café of the movie ‘Casablanca’ an American woman Kathy Kriger has opened a Ricks café with all the ambience of the café as depicted in the movie in a stately old Moroccan home at the edge of the old Medina . Rick’s is located at Blvd Sour Jdid.

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