Official Language:
Arabic & French
Secondary Language:
English
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Currency:
Moroccan Dirham
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Population:
Approximately 3,200,000 people call Casablanca hom
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Casablanca Morocco:
The climate of Casablanca is very hot and humid with temperatures reaching the 90°F/32°C. Evenings are cool and winters can be surprisingly chilly. The rainy season is between November and April, though most days are dry.
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Casablanca is a very busy commercial man made harbor. It deals with most of Morocco's foreign trade. It is Morocco's most cosmopolitan city. It is a mixture of the French mood, the fusion of ancient and modern, of Africa, Arabia and Europe. In the mid 1880's this city declined in significance after the Portuguese were no longer in charge. The French resident general, Lyautey turned things around by establishing Casablanca as the administrative center of the new protectorate and gave Casablanca its wide streets, public parks and fountains, and imposing Mauresque civic buildings.
Casablanca is Morocco’s window on the world. For more than 2000 years, Casablanca's geographical location and involvement with the Iberian peninsula have allowed Morocco an interchange with the West. Today cruise visitors will find Casablanca as a fast-paced cosmopolitan, trend setting city where modernism and traditionalism are brought together. Casablanca is one of the world’s most interesting and open Muslim cities,
Casablanca means white house in Spanish, and the reason for the city's name will become quite obvious as you explore the city's landscape. White houses and white office buildings are the norm here in Morocco's busiest city. The Hassan II mosque stands out above the white landscape, a green tiled edifice that catches your eye no matter where you are. The city has a history of occupation, with many different rulers claiming the city as their own over the centuries. The Berbers traded at the Port of Anfa with Carthaginians and Phoenicians. Later on, the Portuguese came and destroyed Casa Branca, in retaliation for Berber pirate attacks. Sultan Mohammed Ibn Abdellah rebuilt the town, but it soon came under French control. It was only in 1956 that Morocco gained its independence from Spain and France. The evidence of this occupation is everywhere. French is as widely spoken as Arabic, and street names still carry the words rue and boulevard before them. The drive along Morocco's western coast, from Rabat to Casablanca, is replete with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. This area, known as La Corniche, is truly exquisite, and is well worth the time it takes to get there. But if you are on a tight schedule, the bustling pace of Casablanca will offer you plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, and fine dining. It's the people of Morocco who will make your time here memorable. The country stands where Europe and Africa meet, and a legacy of European imperialism has transformed Morocco into a unique combination of Eastern and Western worlds. Moroccans are proud of their country, and they will go out of their way to show you its best face.
Best way to transportation in Casablanca Port to around the city by Petite taxis, they hold a maximum of three passengers. They are everywhere in Casablanca, so you should have no problem hailing one. Grands taxis are for longer trips between cities
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Attractions |
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Casablanca is rapidly developing into a modern industrial success story. The largest city in Morocco, its centre is impressive, with large boulevards and tall, white, well-kept buildings. The old city is more reminiscent of the Casablanca of Bergman and Bogart; a much smaller area with older houses and a good market. Certain landmarks are particularly beautiful, such as the Hassan II Mosque, which is well worth a visit. Casablanca's tourist information office (98 Boulevard Mohammed V, tel. 022/221-524) is a great place to get started when visiting Morocco's enchanting commercial capital. The office will be happy to provide you with maps and brochures, along with some suggested itineraries.
Hassan II Mosque:
The green-tiled roof of Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque (This immense mosque was commissioned as a gift to King Hassan II for his 60th birthday in 1989. Inaugurated in 1993, it contains a museum, steam baths, a library, a Koranic school and conference facilities. The mosque is the third largest in the world, it houses up to 25,000 worshippers. With a 175-metre (575-foot) minaret, it is the tallest religious structure in the world. An eastern-facing laser, on top of the minaret, indicates the direction of Mecca. Special guided tours are available for non-Muslims throughout the day. Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Casablanca. . It took seven years and 35,000 workers to complete the imposing structure. Among its modern amenities is a retractable roof. The mosque is one of the few worldwide that will allow non-Muslim visitors inside. However, you must take a guided tour, which generally run about four times a day.
Old Medina:
This is the original Arab town, partly enclosed by the old wall. It is a maze of narrow streets and whitewashed brick or stone houses, full of shops with everything imaginable for sale.The Port Morocco's biggest and busiest port and one of the largest on the African continent. With a number of deepwater quays, the port abounds with shipping from oil tankers to cruise liners. Fishing is plentiful as are pleasure boats. Centre 2000, a large shopping complex, is worth visiting.
Place Mohamed V:
The heart of the city; the square is flanked by truly splendid French colonial architecture, housing a number of government and public offices, set around a central fountain that spurts jets of multicoloured water.
New Medina:
This area, also known as the Quartier des Habous or 'District of Holy Men', is south of the city and was built by the French in an attempt to solve the housing problems of the 1930s. The endeavour to blend traditional Moroccan architecture with modern urban planning has proved to be surprisingly successful.
The Marabout :
This is one of many religious sites in Morocco, thought to be the burial place of holy men. These picturesque, white-domed tombs are a few miles outside the city, on a little rocky island just off the beach that can only be reached at low tide. Many pilgrims make their way here, as it is believed the site possesses great spiritual healing powers.
Ville Nouvelle:
This area offers some of the best examples of Mauresque architecture anywhere in the city.
Borj Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah:
This imposing 18th-century fort at the lower end of Old Medina was built to resist raids from the Portuguese.
The Grand Mosque:
Sultan Mohammed Ibn built this pretty 19th-century mosque to celebrate the recapture of Anfa from the Portuguese.
Beaches & Outdoor Activities:
The road from Rabat to Casablanca can boast of some of the finer beaches in Africa. It's definitely worth the trip, which should take under two hours. Val d'Or is one of the first beaches you'll encounter, and no one will blame you if you look no further. The Atlantic is warm and clean here, and the sand is a lovely shade of golden brown. As you travel along towards Rabat, feel free to stop along the way at Sables d'Or, Contrabandiers, or Temara Plage. Outdoor Activities There are lots of ways to enjoy the city's natural wonders. Dynamic Tours (34 Boulevard Zerktouni, tel. 022/202-682) offers skiing, hiking, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting, depending on the season. Dynamic Tours also offers four-by-four rentals for adventurous off-roaders. There are also three golf courses in the area. The best of the bunch is Royal Golf de Mohammedia (12 Mohammedia, tel. 023/324-656).
Nightlife in Casablanca:
Casablanca's nightlife fits the frenzied pace the city sets for itself each day. Many of the better hotels in town have busy nightclubs, including
Caesar's Club (tel. 022/317-878) in the Sheraton, The Black House (tel. 022/261-234) in the Hyatt-Regency, and Blue Night (44 Boulevard d'Anfa, tel. 022/262-937) in the Hotel El Kandara.
Shopping:
Closest to the port is Boulevard Houphouet Boigny. The street is lined with small shops and boutiques, with vendors trying to get a small piece of the tourist pie. You will have no problems finding the souvenirs you are looking for here. In the Habbous, you'll find a slightly more upscale collection of stores. One of the better shops in Casablanca is the Ensemble d'Artisanat (195 Boulevard de Bordeaux, tel. 022/228-334), where locals and tourists alike flock for excellent values.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Morocco:
Morocco Travel Information
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