The origins of Casablanca can be traced to the medieval town of Anfa, which is now one of the city's suburbs.Īnfa became the capital of a Berber principality in the aftermath of the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. The market here offers plenty of traditional Moroccan handicrafts, from carpets to ceramic tiles. This small district was built during the 1930s and again draws on Mauresque style. The market itself is built in the distinctive Mauresque architectural style (blending elements of traditional Islamic architecture with European styles).įor a more souvenir-oriented market, head to Souq Haboos in Quartier Haboos, south of central Casablanca. The courtyard is home to plenty of cheap restaurants serving up hearty portions of traditional Moroccan dishes and seafood plates, fresh from the fishmongers next door. A few shops selling local crafts, including baskets and metalware, have also slipped into the mix. Right in the city center, the market is where locals come to buy and sell everything from fresh produce to household supplies, but it's mostly known for its seafood and fish stalls.įor visitors, there are stalls selling local spices and spice mixes and other culinary condiments such as argan oil that make great foodie gifts to take back home. Shop in the Central Market & Souq Haboos Casablanca's Central MarketĬasablanca's bustling central market (Marche Central), between Rue Allal Ben Abdallah and Boulevard Mohamed V, is a must for tourists who want to throw themselves into the midst of city life. You can get a tram all the way to Ain Diab from central Casablanca.Ħ. On sunny weekends, Ain Diab's section of the Corniche is a great spot for people watching, with plenty of local families heading here for picnicking and promenading. The public stretch of beach here isn't particularly clean, so the private beach clubs do a roaring trade, with sun worshipers lapping up the rays and splashing in the club swimming pools. Much of Ain Diab's shoreline is now home to luxury hotels and restaurants. The Corniche road trails west from here, along Casablanca's shore, all the way to the city's beachfront district of Ain Diab. You can snap dramatic photographs of the mosque jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean from this vantage point as well. Enjoy Some Sea Air along the Corniche Hassan II Mosque at the eastern end of the Cornicheįor sea views and fresh sea breezes close to downtown, head to the Hassan II Mosque and stroll the eastern end of Casablanca's Corniche road from here. Pickup and drop-off at central city hotels is included, and transport is in a comfortable air-conditioned car or minibus depending on the size of your group.Īddress: Boulevard Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah, CasablancaĤ. If your time in Casablanca is limited, you can take in the major highlights of the city on the private half-day Casablanca City Tour, which includes a tour of the Hassan II Mosque, visits to both Marche Central and Quartier Harbous, and photo stops along the seafront Corniche and in downtown's Place Mohamed V. The tours begin at the mosque's western entrance several times a day. Non-Muslims can visit the mosque on free guided tours, which are run by the mosque. The location, right on the tip of the rocky bay above the ocean, is thoroughly dramatic. The prayer hall can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, while the courtyard (which boasts a retractable roof) can fit another 80,000.Īstonishingly intricate decoration covers every centimeter of surface. On the shoreline, just beyond the northern tip of Casablanca's medina (old city), the Hassan II mosque dominates the entire city.įinished in 1993, it is the second largest mosque in the world, covering two hectares in size with the world's tallest minaret (200 meters high). Take a Tour inside the Hassan II Mosque Hassan II Mosque
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