Casablanca

Overview

Casablanca was established as a town in 1906 with a population of 20 000. Later in 1907 when the French landed here, Fes was its commercial center whilst Tanger was set up as the city’s main harbor. The French were soon ousted, however, and had to seek a new port altogether and Tanger remained Moroccan. Things have changed much since then.

Casablanca is the biggest city in the Maghreb and the sixth biggest city in the entire continent of Africa. Casablanca is considered also as the economic capital of Morocco because it is the heart of Moroccan business. It is also the primary naval base for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Casablanca is the headquarters and main industrial facilities for leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco. Industrial statistics show Casablanca retains its historic position as the main industrial zone of the country. 

The area which is today Casablanca was settled by Berbers by at least the 7th century. A small independent kingdom, in the area that named Anfa, arose in the area around that time in response to Arab Muslim rule, and continued until it was conquered by the Almoravids in 1068. Casablanca has undergone many influences, Roman, Phonecian, Arabs, and Berbers along with Eurpean and American. Originally modeled after Marseilles when the French landed Casa in 1907, Casa is the most European of Morocco’s cities (with excpetion of Marrakech) and is known as a huge metropolis where modernity and tradition co-exist. As a tourist you can enjoy Casa’s bustling new town or its old medina and also meet immigrants from the countryside. At night you can dance at beach clubs and rub shoulders with the elite and also dine in some of the most liveliest and tasteful seafood restaurants on Casa’s port, the Corniche.

Casablanca today is modern, liberal, lively and colorful. The city began to expand as soon as the dawn of the twentieth century.  Casablanca has become an attractive city where people from varied backgrounds inter mix surrounded by a wide range of architectural styles. Casablanca is home to some of Morocco’s historic Art Deco, Art Noveau,  Mauresque and  Avant- guarde architecture . Casablanca is a keen reflection of an urban cuture that is thriving in Morocco.