For many people Casablanca, Morocco is just a place to change flights or trains, but the city deserves more attention. Casablanca is the country’s economical and cultural capital. It is here where the money is made, the industries are, the primary naval base of the Royal Moroccan Navy, where the fashion designers have a show of the latest designs and the art galleries show off the best contemporary art.
The city grew rapidly during the French reign and even today, rural poor come in droves in search of a better life.
It is full of contradictions, and it has beautiful and well maintained public parks, fountains and colonial architecture. However, at the same time it has suffocating traffic jams, social problems and huge shanty towns.
Casablanca has grown rapidly in the last 150 years from a small village to a thriving industrial and commercial metropolis. It boasts the world’s largest artificial port.
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco
Casablancans are more open to the Western Culture than other Moroccans.
The Western influence can be seen in their way of dressing, and in the way men and women move together in bars, restaurants, beaches and clubs.
A Little Bit of History
Casablanca is a city with a fascinating history.
The modern city was founded in the 10th century BC by Berber fishermen. The port of Anfa, as it was known, was later on used by the Phoenicians, Romans and the Merenids.
The Portuguese destroyed this port, and rebuilt and renamed it as Casa Branca, but they abandoned it after the 1755 earthquake.
The Sultan of Morocco rebuilt this city and the Spanish traders gave it the name Casablanca. It was conquered by the French in 1912; however it became independent in 1956.
Hassan Tower in Rabat
Casablanca has a Mediterranean climate that is strongly influenced by the cool currents of the Atlantic Ocean.
It has a variety of festivals and events, and they are not merely religious and traditional, but there are a plenty of cultural festivals and events.
The local festivals and celebrations are enjoyed by all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
The Independence Celebration, the Tafraoute Festival, the Aid Al Adha, Fatih Mouharam, Rose Festival, the Musical Festival and the Ramadan fasting are some of the famous festivals and celebrations here.
Some of the famous people from Casablanca are Abdesalam Laraki, Salaheddine Bassir, Gad Elmaleh, Shatha Hassoun, Sidney Taurel, Frank Stephenson, Richard Virenque, Abdallah Zrika, and the list goes on.
Where is Casablanca?
- 185.1 miles/ 298 km from Fez, Morocco
- 210 miles/ 338 km from Tangier, Morocco
- 378.4 miles/ 609 km from Oujda, Morocco
- 299.5 miles/ 482 km from Cadiz, Spain
- 19.2 miles/ 31 km from the Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco
- 64 miles/ 103 km from Rabat-Sale International Airport, Morroco
- 260.3 miles/ 419 from Gibraltar International Airport, UK
Things to See
- Hassan II Mosque
- Place Mohammed V
- Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur
- Quartier Habous
- Jewish Museum
- Mahakma du Pasha
- Parc de la Ligue Arabe
- Kinespa Casablanca
- White Mosque
Beaches
- Ain Diab
- Agadir beach
- Miami Plage
- Bouznika Beaches
Excursions
- The Gateway to Morocco
- One Day Tours around Casablanca
- Enchanting Azemmour and El Jadida
Casablanca retains its historical position as the major industrial hub of the country and it has the largest man-made port in the world.
The Oscar winning movie ‘Casablanca,’ released in 1942, made this town popular.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!