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Saturday, 07 November 2009

Royaume du Maroc Rabat Asilah tanger Casablanca Chefchaouen

	*Royaume du Maroc* Rabat
	Rabat is an imperial city for less than a century but has some attractions: The Casbah of Oudaïas, the Hassan Tower or Unfinished Mosque, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Archaeological Museum and the necropolis of Chellah. Unfortunately, my tour did not include the visit of the unfinished mosque of Mohammed V Mausoleum built next door, and walk along the Corniche waterfront destroyed by uncontrolled building of tourist resorts.

Casablanca
	The economic capital of the Kingdom has never been an imperial city. Visit the site of the United Nations with its former colonial residence (the residence of Marshal Lyautey whom a statue was erected there), and especially the new and immense Hassan II Mosque.

Built from 1988 to 1993 and marking the reign of King Hassan II, the latter has the largest minaret in the world (200m).

	Chefchaouen

	Chefchaouen, one of the most pleasant cities of Morocco. The blue and white town rises to a detour route, with its terraced houses with tiled roofs round. With a score of mosques and shrines, the holy city of Chefchaouen breathes an atmosphere of deep serenity. After the joys resorts of Cabo Negro, it is good to stroll along its cobbled streets, meditating on a shaded plot relaxing and drinking tea in a Moorish cafe!

Asilah

Located in northern Morocco, about forty miles from Tangier, Asilah was originally a Carthaginian city, then Roman. In 1471, it underwent a major invasion, which marked its history: nearly 500 ships and 30,000 Portuguese soldiers venirent conquer, for it finally to become their strategic trading post and important. Asilah was built in XV century by the Portuguese, then fell to the Spaniards, until its liberation in 1589 by Sultan Ahmed El Mansour Saâdiens. Later, the Spaniards had taken possession again, and it was this time released by Moulay Ismail in 1691. Its bombing by the Austrian army in 1829 led to the installation and implementation of a Spanish protectorate until 1956.

Tanger

Dove resting on the shoulder of Africa, Tangier has long been coveted for its strategic position. Since the founding of Tingis the fourth century BC, Carthaginians, Romans, Phoenicians, Vandals, Spaniards, Portuguese and English will be the disputed jealously. No African city that is closest to Europe, no East, which is most dear to the hearts of Artisitique European and American painters, musicians or writers.
Delacroix, Saint-Saens, Pierre Loti, Matisse, Van Dongen, Tenessee Williams, Paul Morand, Jean Genet, Joseph Kessel, William Burroughs and Paul Bowles, to name a few, have lived in Tangier.