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Morocco
At
Agadir, tikida means carat golfing
What to see
Created
in 1503 by a Portuguese nobleman, Agadir became an important
port of call for shipping, as desert caravans. Today, the
visitors arrive by plane and there is not any old, narrow
typical street in Agadir. After the 1960’s earthquake,
the young Moroccan authorities decided that a new version
of the Arab world should be built in an area away from the
old town. Agadir was redesigned by Swiss architects as a European
resort with wide boulevards, and the simple lines of the Arab
house was mixed with modern Western architecture.
The central square of Hope and Mohamed
V Avenue are typical of that new style. The
Thursday suuq — or market — has still a local
touch while it is totally dominated by Moroccans. It is genuine,
and has high quality products for sale. Fish auctions take
also place every afternoon in the fish market in the harbour
and delicious fried fish is sold nearby in small open-air
restaurants. The ruins of the ancient kasbah
of Agadir behind the renovated ramparts is nothing to really
attract tourists’ interest. But from the top there is
a great view over the endless white crest beach of
Agadir along the blue Atlantic Ocean, the green fertile valleys
of the Souss and the majestic solid mountains of the Anti-Atlas
which peak is sometime snow-white in winter time.
The new kasbah redesigned in the
tourist area out of the city centre is worth a visit. The
Sicilian Coco Polizzi has recreated there the very
special Morrocan ambiance of the narrow streets with coloured
small shops and handicrafts, cafés and ryad, caravanserail
and a roman amphitheatre for outside theatre and concerts.
So
nowadays, its warm climate, gentle-pace of living and first-class
hotels, make Agadir an ideal holiday destination at any time
of the year. And this outstanding seaside resort is also a
starting point for more exciting discoveries - from the wealth
of unusual sights in the hinterland to the adventure of the
Deep South.
At 80 km far from Agadir, Taroudant is a
beautiful city with its high ocre ramparts, magnificent gardens
and rich handicraft. This excursion could be combined with
Tiout and made in one day. Tiout is a genuine
"Ksar" (a fortified Berber village) in perfect harmony
with the scenery of the first mountains of the Anti Atlas.
After having drunk a cup of mint tea at the inhabitant , possibility
making a mule ride and visit the oasis till the terrace of
the ancient kasbah offers a unique scenery of Souss
valley.
Tafraout, situated at 200 km far from Agadir,
via a bending mountain route, offers a magnificent scenery
of the south. Kasbahs, huge rocs, oases make the landscape
rich in colours. On the way back, Tiznit
is known for its jewellery shops. Every Saturday at dawn,
at Guelmin, begins the largest dromedary
market in Morocco. Those take part in this souk are the "blue
men". They are so called because they wear clothes made
out of indigo coloured cotton fabric. The Soussmassa
natural reserve is where the pink flamingos, ibis, ducks,
doves and herons have only the sound of the galloping gazelles
to disturb them. It is a haven of divine, magical tranquillity.
TOURISM INFORMATION
Avenue Mohamed V, Agadir tel.: 048 840 307
www.tourism-in-morocco.com
ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTER
Avenue du 29 Février, Agadir tel.: 048 823 872
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Agadir skyline
Modern Square of Hope
The new kasbah
Taroudant
Camel in the desert
The picturesque Tafraout ksar
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