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Ancienne Medina
Casablanca's modest medina gives an idea of just how small the city was before the French embarked on their massive building programme. Even though it's the oldest part of the city, most of the buildings date from the 19th century and it lacks the medieval character of other city medinas.
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Art Deco Buildings
If you can see past the traffic, fumes and general chaos of central Casablanca you'll discover the city's rich architectural heritage, a blend of French-colonial design and traditional Moroccan style known as Mauresque architecture. Developed in the 1930s and heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement, it embraced decorative details such as intricate carved friezes, beautiful tile work and ornate wrought-iron balconies.
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Beaches
The affluent suburb of Aïn Diab runs along the Atlantic beachfront west of the centre and is home to the happening Blvd de la Corniche. Lined with beach clubs, upmarket hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs it is the entertainment hub of Casablanca and the place for young, chic professionals to see and be seen.
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Casablanca's Neighbourhoods
Casablanca is Morocco's commercial hub and is more interested in big international business than the tourist dollar. For the traveller it can be a pretty workaday place to visit and for its size has a dearth of traditional tourist attractions. Apart from the incredible Hassan II Mosque, the city's main appeal is in strolling around its neighbourhoods: the Art Deco style of the city centre, the gentrified market district of the Quartier Habous and the beachfront views of the Corniche.
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Cathédrale du Sacré Coeur
On the northwest edge of the Parc de la Ligue Arabe you can't miss the imposing Cathédrale du Sacré Coeur, a massive white church that gracefully blends European style and traditional Moroccan influences. The cathedral was designed by Paul Tornon in 1930 and has been used as a school, theatre and cultural centre. It is due to be restored and its rundown interior is only open for special events.
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Chleuh Mosque
The old city's main Friday mosque is the Chleuh Mosque along Rue Chakab Arsalane in the old medina.
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Cinema Rialto
Cinema Rialto is a classic Art Deco building with some wonderful touches.
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Hammam Ziani
Sparklingly clean and decidedly modern, Hammam Ziani offers massage, Jacuzzi and juice bar, as well as the traditional steam room and gommage (being scrubbed by an attendant).
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Hassan II Mosque
The brainchild and crowning achievement of King Hassan II, this phenomenal building is the world's third-largest mosque. It was built to commemorate the former king's 60th birthday and opened in 1993 giving Casablanca the heart and landmark it so sorely missed.
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Jewish Museum of Casablanca
Set in a beautiful villa surrounded by lush gardens, this is Casablanca's only museum and the only Jewish museum in the Islamic world. It demonstrates the history of the once-thriving Jewish community and its influence on modern Moroccan society.
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La Princière Salon de Thé
Impressive facades line both sides of Rue Indriss Lahrizi. Check out the prize piece, La Princière Salon de Thé, easily recognised by the huge stone crown on the roofline.
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Mahakma du Pasha
To the south of the Quartier Habous (Nouvelle Medina) is the old Mahakma du Pasha, which has more than 60 rooms decorated with sculpted wooden ceilings, stuccowork, earthenware floors and wrought iron railings.
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Miami Plage
The largest beach club in Aïn Diab is Miami Plage, which has basketball courts, beach umbrellas, a swimming pool and a restaurant and bar.
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Parc de la Ligue Arabe
Casa's biggest open space is the Parc de la Ligue Arabe. It's a good place for games and walks, has a choice of small cafés and the Yasmina amusement park.
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Place Mohammed V
Place Mohammed V is the grand centrepiece of the French regeneration scheme. The vast square is surrounded by an impressive array of august administrative buildings, mostly designed by Henri Prost and Robert Marrast. The ancienne préfecture (old police headquarters), dating from 1930, dominates the south side of the square and is topped by a modernist clock tower.
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Quartier Habous
The Quartier Habous, or nouvelle medina , is Morocco-lite - an idealised, almost toy-town, version of a traditional medina with neat little rows of streets and shop stalls. The district was built by the French in the 1930s as an attempted solution to the ongoing housing shortage. It marries the best of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities and French ideals - even the mosque fronts onto a strip of grassy lawn just like a village church.
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Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is to the north of the Quartier Habous (Nouvelle Medina).
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Villa des Arts
Located in a wonderful converted Art Deco building near the Parc de la Ligue Arabe, Villa des Arts is a gallery that rotates exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art.
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Yasmina Amusement Park
The Yasmina Amusement Park has plenty of small-scale rides and a fun-fair atmosphere.
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Showing 1-19 of 19 results
