Casablanca - Morocco
Medinas, Hassan II Mosque, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Beth-El Synagogue
Morocco's reputation as a tourist destination is growing rapidly. In this moderate Islamic country few women wear the veil and religious tolerance is widespread.
Morocco’s capital city Casablanca, sometimes called Casa or Dar el Baida, is a lively, modern city whose reputation as a tourist destination is growing rapidly. However, it does have its bad points. Its traffic is manic and every driver seems to be on a kamikaze mission. It’s noisy and smelly with some not so nice parts of town. Advice to tourists is to stick together and beware of pickpockets! But having said that Casablanca is beautiful, a fascinating and vibrant city.
The Old and New Medinas
Despite its modernity Casablanca has retained its charm and culture in the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Medina still partly enclosed by the original wall. Within this maze of narrow streets and whitewashed brick or stone houses you can buy everything from animals to spices by the kilo, or hand-made crafts. On one corner the smell of freshly cooked pastry makes your mouth water and on another olives, dozens of different varieties, can be sampled.
A visit to the Habous Quarter, often called the New Medina or Nouvelle Medina, is a must. It was designed by French architects in the 1930s to resolve a housing crisis and create a modern, twentieth century Kasbah.
Casablanca, whilst mainly a Muslim city, is home to many religious groups including Catholic and Jewish communities.
Hassan II Mosque
The stunningly beautiful Hassan II Mosque is open to non-Muslims. Rules of admittance are very strict. Modest dress code must be observed at all times with no shorts, mini-skirts or bare shoulders for either men or women. Shoes must be removed at the front door and you’ll be given a bag to put them in.
The Mosque and surrounding esplanade accommodates over one hundred thousand worshippers. Its vibrant colours, beautiful decoration and sheer size simply take your breath away. When lit up at night it's simply stunning!
Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes
Another point of interest is the Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes dating from the 1950s. Its light airy interior is lit by an entire wall of the most breathtakingly beautiful stained glass windows covering an area of more than 800 square meters. Outside the church is a very pretty shrine where many worshippers were queuing to light candies.
Beth-El Synagogue
Casablanca has a strong Jewish community with many synagogues. Beth-El Synagogue is one of the largest and most beautiful noted for its stained glass windows, in the style of Marc Chagall. Sunlight, tinted by stained glass, bounces off a gigantic crystal chandelier creating thousands of shimmering rainbow mosaics on every surface. The ark, the most important thing in the synagogue, houses the Hebrew scrolls and these are dressed in exquisitely embroidered velvet mantles. The walls are inscribed with gilded quotes from the Bible and the ceiling is equally decorative. To visit the synagogue write to Beth El Synagogue, Rue Verlet Hanus, Casablanca (Tel: 002122 669-95).
Useful Information
The languages spoken in Morocco are French and Moroccan Arabic. The currency is the Dirham (dh) and must be purchased on arrival. Most restaurants are closed during daylight hours during Ramadan.
For additional information can be obtained from the Moroccan National Tourist Board.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
