One Day in Casablanca: Exploring Morocco’s Modern Hub.

/ Morocco / By

Welcome back dear reader(s). In the previous chapter we wrote about our visit to fascinating Fez, also rightly named “the big maze”. It is the only still fully functional medina in Morocco and you should visit this magic place before the old charm gets gobbled up by the inevitable modernisation. 

In this chapter we pay a one day visit to Casablanca, Morocco’s economic and commercial hub. Casablanca is the best representation of the modern nation, the place where money is being made.

We take the early morning luxury train that takes us in one hour from Rabat to Casa Port station in Casablanca.
Lining up for the 9 am tour of the main sight of Casablanca.
The Hassan II Mosque with its 210m-tall minaret took six years to build and was completed in 1993.
One of the largest mosques in Africa it can hold 105,000 worshippers - 25,000 inside and the rest on the outside courtyard.
The size and elaborate decoration of the prayer hall is simply spectacular. A team of more than 6000 master craftsmen was assembled to work on the mosque, delicately carving intricate patterns and designs in fragrant cedar wood from the Middle Atlas and pink granite from Agadir. There is a small museum showcasing the craftwork involved.
Women's praying area is the balconies, whilst the men's praying area is the ground floor, which can be heated in winter.
The ceiling under the balconies floor.
The gilded cedar ceiling can slide open in two halves to let the sea-breeze in.
The Mihrab, pointing towards Mekka.
The entrance towards the basement where the ablution fountains are located.
The fountains are shaped in a lotus flower and carved from local marble.
The huge gates are made from brass and titanium.
Mosque under construction. Photo taken from a picture in the museum.

The Phoenicians established a small trading port in Anfa in the 6th century BC that by the early 15th century became a safe haven for the Barbary Pirates – see discover-rabats-rich-maritime-history. They were such a threat that in 1575 the Portuguese chased them out, erected fortifications and renamed the port Casa Branca (White House). The Portuguese abandoned their colony in 1755 and nothing remains of their tenure. By the mid-1800s a booming Europe turned to Morocco for increased supplies of grain and wool and merchants flocked back to the city. The Spanish renamed it Casablanca and by early 1900 the French built an artificial harbour. It is still one of the largest in Morocco.

We haven't had breakfast yet so we walk through the medina in search for the "best breakfast in town".
The place is located just behind the sea-wall between the medina and the port.
The place is called "Sqala". The Eiffel tower as a reminder to the French period.
Luckily there was no more waiting line since we were already late in the morning.
Most of the tables, both in-and outside, were still occupied.
Very friendly staff........
.....and a very good breakfast indeed.
Doughnuts Moroccan style.
After this delicious brunch we walk through the small ancient medina towards central Casablanca. It's about noon and locals are buying street food for lunch.
Bab Al Marsa is the only landmark in the old wall between port and medina, that has kept its original architectural character.
Medina street view with the minaret of the Grand Mosque of Casablanca.
The old encircled by the new. Bab El Kabir in the medina wall, Zevaco dome, clock tower, Hotel plaza.
It is said that Casablanca has no sights apart from the Hassan II Mosque but the French-built centre has some great examples of the French grandeur of the 1930s. Like the Eglise du Sacré Coeur.
Although officially still closed for renovation, Frits was able to talk us in.
The building will be repurposed as a cultural centre.
Place Mohammed V with its impressive fountain is surrounded by interesting buildings.
Like this Court of First Instance built in 1925 and inspired by the architecture of a medersa (school) as we saw in Fez.
And this ultra contemporary Grand Theatre de Casablanca, the largest theatre in Africa.
Or this ex. police headquarter, now governor's office, oddly combined with a clock tower.
The central Post Office.
Banque Al Maghrib. Note the carved stucco on the facade as we have seen on the walls of ancient mosques.
Colonial style buildings that are now apartments, hotels or offices.
Hotel Volubilis with its recessed balconies and burnished gold detailing.
No visit is complete before visiting the wet market.
This one has an impressive "fruit de mer" section.

This concludes our one day visit to Casablanca. We now need to hurry because we have a train to catch, back to our floating home in Rabat, where we will prepare for the next leg of our journey; a sail to Agadir.

Thank you for reading and liking our stories. Liza and Frits.