Casablanca

Casablanca became known to the Western World thanks to a Michael Curtize’s black and white movie classic of the same name that was awarded two Oscars at the Academy Awards Gala in 1944.

Today, Casablanca, situated on the coast of Atlantic Ocean, is a business and industrial center of Morocco. Being the biggest city in terms of population in Morocco, it is the second biggest in Africa.

White-stoned Casablanca, the symbol of modern Morocco, reminds more of a Southern European city than a traditional Moroccan settlement. Headquarters of the biggest companies and banks established in Morocco as well as the boutiques of the most famous European designers are located in Casablanca. It is the best place to enjoy the exciting nightlife of Morocco.

In the 7th and 8th centuries AD, in place of Casablanca there was a small Berber town called Anfa, which was also the capital of the Berber country. In Medieval times the citizens of Anfa traded successfully with passing Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ships. Later on pirates found their shelter in Anfa. By the middle of the 15th century the pirate attacks grew to such an extent that the Portuguese decided to end the pirate activity drastically and in 1486 they organized a retribution sally to Anfa. The city was burnt down to the ground but the peace did not last long. By 1515 the pirate activity had recovered and the Portuguese organized their second expedition. This time they did not only destroy the city but established a Portuguese secured fortress near the port from which developed the city of Casablanca. In 1755 Casablanca was demolished in Lisbon earthquake. The contemporary restored Casablanca is, in comparison with other big cities of Africa, the most similar to Southern European cities.

The main sight of Casablanca is the Mosque of Hassan II. The Mosque is not only the highest building in town but also the most grandiose Muslim temple of the 20th century and the second biggest mosque in the world. Simultaneously there can be 20,000 men and 5,000 women praying in the mosque. Additionally the mosque square accommodates another 80,000 prayers. Its minaret is the highest of its own kind in the world and the mosque is the highest religious building in the world. In addition to its religious function, the mosque has also a cultural function- it accommodates scholastic institutions, library and a national museum. The construction of the mosques started under Hassan II reign. Its inauguration took place on August 30, 1993; however, some of the construction has still not been finished. The construction cost approximately $500 million dollars. It is a remarkable building in terms of architecture inside and out. Unlike others Moroccan mosques, the Mosque of Hassan II can be visited by non-Muslims.