Day 1 - Casablanca

Brief Info
Casablanca is a city in the western part of Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. Casablanca is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region in Morocco.

Having a population of over 5,5 million people, Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its main port. Casablanca is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The city is considered to be the economic and business center of Morocco, while the political capital city in Morocco is still Rabat. Casablanca is located in the Chawiya plain which was historically been the breadbasket of the whole country. The land where most of Casablanca is located belonged to the Mediouna tribe.

Casablanca
While landing at Mohammed V International Airport, we cannot help but think about the famous closing scene from the film “Casablanca,” where Humphrey Bogart bids farewell to Ingrid Bergman, who leaves on a plane to Lisbon. But Casablanca, which is now one of the most recognized tourist destinations in Africa, is more than just a classic movie, it is a classic city. Located on the western tip of Africa, Casablanca’s only downside is that it is not as exotic as the other Moroccan cities. Alongside of French boulevards and public parks that dot the port city, there are open-air clothing and leather markets. Once a busy harbour, Casablanca is now the country’s economical and cultural capital.

What immediately strike you here will be the bleak facades of the suburbs standing in sharp contrast to the Hispano-Moorish, artdeco, and modernist gems of the city centre, and to Casablanca’s incredibly ornate landmark Hassan II Mosque. After paying a visit to Hassan II Mosque, we head towards to the Habbous Quarter to admire the main entrance of the King’s Palace, and the Mahkama Du Pasha, or Governor’s Courthouse, which embodies every conceivable architectural feature and decorative motif in Hispano-Moorish art. It is also here you can do some shopping in stores clad with traditional clothing and antique items.