CASABLANCA

If you come to Casablanca in search of Rick’s Café or Bogart, you may be disappointed. Yet, Casa - as the locals call it - has much to offer as the city most influenced by the French and a showcase for their architecture and urban design. Although it now suffers from overcrowding, traffic and pollution, it is Morocco’s most cosmopolitan city and features some outstanding restaurants. Yet its most impressive sight is also its most recent: the largest mosque in the world outside of Mecca. Symbolically located at the westernmost point in the Muslim world, the Mosque Hassan II is dramatically perched over the Atlantic Ocean. Visible from all over the city, its statistics are overwhelming: its minaret is over 60 stories high (and will soon be crowned by a laser pointing in the direction of Mecca). The Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome can fit inside its hand-crafted marble walls. The mosque holds 20,000 worshipers under a retractable roof and a staggering 100,000 when the courtyard is used for prayer. Completed only a few years ago by His Majesty Hassan II, the buildings of the forecourt (a religious university and a library) are still under construction. Eventually, a grand avenue will extend from the courtyard to the center of the city. Its brilliant siting not only makes for dramatic architecture, but reflects the Koranic verse "Allah has his throne on the water"
A few miles away is the island of marabout Sidi Abder Rahman. Holy men (designated by the title "Sidi") are venerated in death in Morocco; their tombs become holy places to which pilgrims flock in search of certain blessings. In the case of this tomb, women who are unable to conceive come here for stays of up to one week. Around his tomb, on this rock outcropping, a series of pilgrims’ quarters have sprung up. Non-Muslims are welcome on this island; women are especially welcome.
For lovers of architecture, Casablanca offers fine work by French architects who built their careers in Morocco. They created an architecture known as "Mooresque" which fused Moroccan design with the latest French styles. The most compelling examples are the public buildings which surround Place Mohamed V. Equally fascinating is the New Medina - also known as the Habous Quarter - an attempt by French architects to create a 20th century kasbah.
Casablanca also contains some outstanding examples of International Style (high modern) and Art Deco architecture - including beautiful villas in the neighborhood of Moulay Youssef near the American Consulate.

 

NobleArt Travel

Do not hesitate to contact us!
info@nobleart.travel
We will be very happy to organize for you transport between all the cities of Morocco.