Interesting places in Morocco
RABAT
The capital of Morocco, which looks like European cities. Among ordinary, municipal
architecture, there are many magnificent monuments. The Chellah, surrounded
by the Merinid walls, is one of the most beautiful ruins of Morocco. In the
tropical garden, there are the ruins of an ancient Roman city, Sala Colonia
(closed for visitors, but they can be seen through the holes in the fence),
and the necropolis of a great Merinid ruler, Abu al-Hasan.
A great tourist attraction in the capital of Morocco is the Hassan Tower. The
tower can be ascended by ramps, built for the sultan to allow him to ride on
horse to the top of the tower. Each of four façades is made differently.
In front of the building, there is a mausoleum of Mohammed V, the father of
king Hassan II, who died in 1961. The New City, built by Frenchmen, is a governmental
district. There is the parliament building, located in the Mohammed V avenue,
and many embassy buildings. Rabat is also well-known for its elegant beaches.
South from Rabat, there are the Temara and Skhirat beaches – a very popular
place for relaxation with many restaurants and nightclubs. North from Rabat
there is an elegant Nations Beach – a vast, sandy area spreading for a
long distance. In front of the beach, there are the Sidi Bouknadel Exotic Gardens.
AGADIR
The most popular holiday resort in Morocco, which is mainly known for the longest beaches in Africa. Along the local bay, there is a beautiful and sandy beach which is nearly 100-meter wide. It is the biggest attraction for beach and walk lovers. This tourist metropolis, situated between the Sahara and the Atlantic, offers a sunny climate all the year long. Along the main streets and the sea promenade, there are shops, good restaurants, bars offering Arab and French cuisine and discos. The hotel zone in the city is well-located, it is next to the center and the beach. There is also a rich sports offer, beginning from tennis and golf to horse riding and surfing.
ESSAUIRA
It is a picturesque city with exceptional climate- a paradise for photographers. Fortifications around old Medina and a beautiful coast with rocks standing out from the sea, above which birds are flying melancholically, makes Essauira a charming and unforgettable city. Countless numbers of shops with cedar and thuja products, colorful pottery and glass products, wonderful fabrics and other souvenirs can be bought here for good prices.
FEZ
An ancient city with sill existent Medieval architecture. Only few examples of our civilization (bank, telephones, electricity) do not mislead us that the time didn’t move back hundreds of years after entering the city. It is called “ a green city” and is one of the oldest cities and a religious center of Morocco. Tourists visit here mainly the Medresa (Koran school) and the Museum of Moroccan Art Dar Batha, and the Old Town (for example Medresa Bou Inania, Medresa el Attarine, Karaouyine mosque).
MARRAKESH
It is called a red city because of its trick-salmon color walls in the whole city, which seem to be burning in the light of the sunset. Numerous mosques and palaces here are worth visiting, e.g., De La Bahia, the museum, the Higher Koran School, medina, the suk and famous tanneries. Marrakesh is also known for its bazaar on Jamma El Fna square. There are also snake-charmers, sorcerers, acrobats and story tellers present on the square every evening together with tourists and the inhabitants, who make here everyday shopping, listen to rumors, eat dinner at the bazaar tables, where the offer includes soups, seafood, snails, bread pies and any other delicious kinds of food. Tourists can listen to exotic music here, and meet at the tables in the open air the inhabitants of the city wearing jallaba, who share their knowledge about this beautiful city, and arouse affection to this exceptional and exotic city among everyone who listens to them.
CASABLANCA
The most popular city in Morocco with more than 3 million inhabitants, which is also second-biggest city in Africa (after Cairo). The city center of Casablanca is modern and does not differ much from the cities of the West- it has wide alleys, sky scrapers and luxurious hotels, which create a bustling business center. On the other hand, in the suburbs, there are vast poor districts. The newest building of Casablanca, the Hassan II mosque, looms over the city and is on of the wonders of modern architecture. It was built at the shore of the Atlantic and opened in August 1993; it is supposed to reflect the atmosphere of Casablanca. The Ain Diab – Marabut Sidi er-Rahamn – sea promenade leads to Ain Diab which is a heath resort full of beaches, clubs, bars and good fish restaurants popular among tourists. Habbus is a pleasant district, a place of walks situated among shops that sell everything what tourists would like to bring from Morocco.
MEKNES
Although it is currently a province city, its past glamour can still be observed. Bab el-Mansur is considered to be the biggest gate in North Africa, it is a symbol of a magnificent architectural vision of sultan Mulaj Ismail. Two surrounding arcades supported on marble columns brought from Roman Volubilis emphasize its huge size. Medresa Bu Inania, also called a treasure of medina, which is a masterpiece of Merinid Art, still impresses tourists. On the right side of a ablution basin there is a small room for prayers and a mihrab, the courtyard is surrounded by well-preserved paravans made of cedar wood which enable students to isolate from the surroundings.
TARUDANT
Tourists are attracted mostly by is walls, which are mighty fortifications in the ochre color with the High Atlas in the background. Topped with embattlement, they belong to best-preserved walls in Morocco; they surround the city at the distance of 7 kilometers. An interesting fact is that these walls are made of pisé – packed desert soil dried in the sun and consolidated with straw and wood form palm trees.