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Morocco
On
the Southern Royal Golf Road
What to see
- Agadir.
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 has still a local touch while it is totally
dominated by Moroccans. It is genuine, and has high quality
products for sale. Fish auctions takealso 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 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.
- Essaouira.
On the coastal road between Agadir and Casablanca, the ancient
Portuguese harbor of Mogador, now Essaouira “la Blanche”
has a special charme, a touch of class coming from its unspoilt
ancient traditional look. The door of the Marine built in
the year 1184 joins the town to the harbour. A staircase allows
to get to the top of the harbor Skala defensive wall to enjoy
the view over the beach and the ‘Purpuraires’
islands. Cannons along the reamparts are decorated with Portuguese,
Spanish and Flemish armories. It is in this astonishing scenery
where Orson Welles filmed some scenes of its Othello movie
which won the Palme d'Or at the 1952 Cannes festival.
The Skala is worth the visit to discover, in the former warehouses
of munitions, craftsmens’artworks in thuja wood, inlaid
of citrus, ebony and sometimes of copper wire. Lovely collection
of bronze cannons pointed to the ocean. Tradewinds blow more
or less all the time tempering the climate in winter and in
summer time. The harbour is dedicated to coloured fishing
boats and it is recommended to taste local fresh fish and
seafood in the openair restaurants all around the quays.
- El Jadida.
At 80 kms South from Casablanca, the seaside city of El Jadida
was the former Portuguese Mazagan which the French Lyautey
considered like "The Deauville of Morocco." It sold
clean streets, the ancient Portuguese rain water tank, the
fascinating remparts and the Angel's bastion are worst the
visit for the exceptional circular view over the city and
the ocean.
The city and
the port are becoming more industrial, but the wonderful beaches
are appreciated by Moroccans and tourists.
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Agadir old kasbah and remparts
modern skyline along the
beach
and Hope place.
Essaouira the "white"
and its remparts
El Jadida beach
and famous water citern
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