Casablanca, main Moroccan city and capital of everything except for the administrative power, today is the largest port in the Maghreb claiming more traffic than Marseille itself. Casablanca appears like any southern European metropolis, with intense traffic, a large urban extension and the same problems that most big cities carry. Casablanca is the most cosmopolitan of Moroccan cities, the veil has almost disappeared from women’s heads and the beaches have modern clubs complete with pools, tennis courts, bars and restaurants. However, the European atmosphere hides some serious social problems. Next to the prestigious monuments and modern buildings, Casablanca is known for its poverty and all the problems that come with it. Particularly the presence of the “bidonvilles” (the ghetto) that developed on either side of the railway in proximity to the city is the result of the uncontrolled growth of the population and the lack of employment.
Casablanca is a big city that at first glance could appear confusing, but once you get to the centre it is not difficult to find your bearings. From Place Mohammed V as a starting point a variety of streets full of hotels, coffee houses and restaurants open up; a few blocks north of the square there is the old medina, which is still partly enclosed by the original city walls. The old town was the only built-up area in 1907 when the French arrived and built the new city, also known as the Habous quarter. Architecturally Casablanca is interesting for the large presence of art nouveau and art deco constructions in which styles most private buildings were built during the first colonial years. The most fascinating monument in the city is certainly the Hassan II Mosque that was only commissioned in 1980 and completed in 1993, but the size and the beauty of the architecture put it among the sites that must be visited. Although the Islamic tradition doesn’t allow visitors from other faiths to sacred temples, the Hassan II Mosque can be visited with 1hour guided tours. The large scale of the building can give a deceptive sense of distance when seen from afar making you think you are closer that you actually are. Finally another hot spot in Casablanca is the beach of Ain Diab, not for the sea or the beach itself, which is not one of the cleanest of the Atlantic, but for the presence of the beach clubs offering sea water pools, bars, restaurants and sport facilities such as tennis courts, volleyball courts and some of them even have dance clubs.