Traveler's Guide To Casablanca

Casablanca’s mild Mediterranean climate and beautiful architecture make it one of the most desirable locales in the world. This Moroccan city is as surprising as it is beautiful. While it doesn’t conform to Hollywood’s version, here you will find the city’s own secrets and treasures and realize that Casablanca is much more than you were expecting.

The 1942 film, Casablanca, had a huge impact on how that and subsequent generations viewed the city. You can still find traces of this image in Old Medina, or the Old City. Built in 1770, it is full of small shops, stores, and tiny squares. It is small, cramped, and a wonderful place to walk through and witness the ancient charm mingled with modern Arab-Islamic and Western architecture. Visit the busy market by the gate of Old Medina or the fish harbor or simply walk through the tiny streets.

But Casablanca is not a city of the past: it has a rich and vibrant modern feel that any visitor will be able to discern. A must for any guest to Casablanca is the Hassan II Mosque, built in 1980. This immense building, many times bigger than the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, can accommodate over 25,000 of the faithful. Laser lights point the way to Mecca, and the sea surrounds the mosque on three sides. This beautiful exterior leads to the interior: a marvel of stone and marble floors, fine moldings, and gorgeous, painted ceilings.

From the Place de Nations Unies, you can see the heart of the city. The streets are breathtaking with modern white buildings and unique styles of architecture. In La Nouvelle Medina, or the New City, you will find shopping centers and cafes, the Central Post Office or City Hall. While the local post office or city hall buildings may not make it on your itinerary in other cities, make a point to stop here while in Casablanca. You will see exquisite Arabic mosaic art and Islamic architecture. This is a treat, and a great way to see the Arabic heritage of the city.

Sit and think about the beauty you have seen in the Parc de la Arabe. The park offers a respite of natural beauty in the midst of a bustling city. You will see palm trees and gorgeous gardens. The warm breezes make this an ideal place to rest from your excursions.

Casablanca is a city of contrasts: ancient and modern. It is also a cramped city with sprawling natural beauty, Arabic and Western. It is these differences that create the unified, unique feel of this incomparable city.

By: Enid Glasgow

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Enid Glasgow is a travel writer and travel enthusiast. She’s enjoyed a number of luxury tours to Casablanca.