Casablanca Old Town Walking Tour (Self Guided), Casablanca
Although the Old Town (Medina) of Casablanca is not as ancient as that of the imperial cities like Fez or Marrakech, it is well worth seeing all the same. The historic heart of the city, rather modest in size 鈥� measuring some 50 hectares, is made up of three parts: the Medina proper; the Jewish quarter, or Mellah, with the Ettedgui Synagogue in it; and the popular quarter called Tnaker.
Surrounding the Old Town is a fairly well-preserved wall, stretching for about 4 km, with eight gates. The best known of them is the southern one, called Bab Marrakech or Medina Gate, with the nearby Clock Tower standing in the middle of United Nations Square (Place des Nation Unies), formerly France Square (Place de France). The Tower was originally built in 1911, but was demolished in 1948 for being "shaky". In 1993, it was rebuilt not far from its original location.
Remnants of the old city life, found along the narrow alleyways that have stayed the same for hundreds of years, are still quite visible. Among them is the oldest mausoleum in Casablanca housing the tomb of the city's first patron saint, Sidi Allal el-Kairouani, protector of sailors and fishermen.
The city started to grow out of the old town area essentially in the 1920s. Much of the historic center is now a bazaar with artisans selling leather goods, oils, linens, shoes and spices, or even antiques passed down by their ancestors.
Here you will also find various outdoor caf茅s and smaller restaurants. One such, overlooking the harbor near the place once called "Casa Branca" by the Portuguese who built a fort (sqala) here in 1515, is the La Sqala caf茅. Another prominent landmark of the old town, that the true lovers of movies wouldn't want to pass, is Rick's Caf茅 Casablanca, recreating the legendary 鈥済in joint鈥� featured in the 1942 classic 鈥淐asablanca鈥�.
If you wish to step back in time strolling through the whitewashed crooked lanes, tree-shaded squares and feel the pulse and spirit of historic Casablanca, take this self-guided walk of the Old Town of Casablanca.
Surrounding the Old Town is a fairly well-preserved wall, stretching for about 4 km, with eight gates. The best known of them is the southern one, called Bab Marrakech or Medina Gate, with the nearby Clock Tower standing in the middle of United Nations Square (Place des Nation Unies), formerly France Square (Place de France). The Tower was originally built in 1911, but was demolished in 1948 for being "shaky". In 1993, it was rebuilt not far from its original location.
Remnants of the old city life, found along the narrow alleyways that have stayed the same for hundreds of years, are still quite visible. Among them is the oldest mausoleum in Casablanca housing the tomb of the city's first patron saint, Sidi Allal el-Kairouani, protector of sailors and fishermen.
The city started to grow out of the old town area essentially in the 1920s. Much of the historic center is now a bazaar with artisans selling leather goods, oils, linens, shoes and spices, or even antiques passed down by their ancestors.
Here you will also find various outdoor caf茅s and smaller restaurants. One such, overlooking the harbor near the place once called "Casa Branca" by the Portuguese who built a fort (sqala) here in 1515, is the La Sqala caf茅. Another prominent landmark of the old town, that the true lovers of movies wouldn't want to pass, is Rick's Caf茅 Casablanca, recreating the legendary 鈥済in joint鈥� featured in the 1942 classic 鈥淐asablanca鈥�.
If you wish to step back in time strolling through the whitewashed crooked lanes, tree-shaded squares and feel the pulse and spirit of historic Casablanca, take this self-guided walk of the Old Town of Casablanca.
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Casablanca Old Town Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Casablanca Old Town Walking Tour
Guide Location: Morocco » Casablanca (See other walking tours in Casablanca)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Author: EmmaS
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Morocco » Casablanca (See other walking tours in Casablanca)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Author: EmmaS
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Clock Tower and Medina Gate
- Rue Dar el Makhzen (Dar el Makhzen Street)
- Jamaa as-Chleuh Mosque
- Church of San Buenaventura
- Ettedgui Synagogue
- Sqala Bastion and La Sqala Restaurant
- Sidi Allal el - Kairouani Tomb
- Rick's Caf茅 Casablanca
1) Clock Tower and Medina Gate
Charles Martial Joseph Dessigny, it has been said, had a sort of obsession. He really liked towers. He was a military man, Army of France. He'd had served in Ain Sefra, in Algeria, where he had built a fine clock tower. When he was done with the artillery bombardment in Casablanca, he would build another tower, just like the one before.
He occupied Casablanca, took charge of the French department of public facilities and ordered the construction of the tower. He acted so fast the tower was completed before 1912, when the French Protectorate of Morocco became official. It was brilliant. A tower to rival the minarets, it signified the dawn of French power in Morocco.
The tower looked very like a minaret. It was square-based, like a minaret. It had four round clock faces with roman numerals. Over the years the tower became unstable. It was demolished in 1948. But not to worry. A duplicate tower was built nearby in 1993.
Walking through the old city between central Casablanca and the mosque of Hassan II, in the northeast corner of United Nations Square, discover the copy of Dessigny's beloved tower. Next to the tower is the Old Medina Gate. Most shops or stalls to be found will be close to the gate. The Medina has undergone much renovation and is now mainly residential.
He occupied Casablanca, took charge of the French department of public facilities and ordered the construction of the tower. He acted so fast the tower was completed before 1912, when the French Protectorate of Morocco became official. It was brilliant. A tower to rival the minarets, it signified the dawn of French power in Morocco.
The tower looked very like a minaret. It was square-based, like a minaret. It had four round clock faces with roman numerals. Over the years the tower became unstable. It was demolished in 1948. But not to worry. A duplicate tower was built nearby in 1993.
Walking through the old city between central Casablanca and the mosque of Hassan II, in the northeast corner of United Nations Square, discover the copy of Dessigny's beloved tower. Next to the tower is the Old Medina Gate. Most shops or stalls to be found will be close to the gate. The Medina has undergone much renovation and is now mainly residential.
2) Rue Dar el Makhzen (Dar el Makhzen Street)
Dar el-Makhzen is a royal residence in Morocco and in other Islamic countries. In Morocco there are royal residences in Rabat, Fes, Casablanca and other cities. In Casablanca the Dar el-Makhzen can be found on Rue Dar el-Makhzen (no surprise there). The residence is closed to visitors. But there is a mosque, Jamaa el-Kebir, just a little further on.
The mosque was built at the order of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in the 1700s. The Sultan supervised the construction closely. He was present at the laying of the foundation and at the first Friday prayers. The building received an extension in the 19th century by Sultan Moulay Hassan I. King Mohammed V added further in 1950.
The rue Dar el-Makhzen connects to the Rue Sidi Bousmara which leads to the shrine of Sidi Bousmara, a saint who settled in Casablanca.
The mosque was built at the order of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah in the 1700s. The Sultan supervised the construction closely. He was present at the laying of the foundation and at the first Friday prayers. The building received an extension in the 19th century by Sultan Moulay Hassan I. King Mohammed V added further in 1950.
The rue Dar el-Makhzen connects to the Rue Sidi Bousmara which leads to the shrine of Sidi Bousmara, a saint who settled in Casablanca.
3) Jamaa as-Chleuh Mosque
In the center of the old city of Casablanca there is a mosque that once went by the name "Fig Tree Mosque." It was a very small mosque. It was built in 1899 by Mohammed Senhadji of Sousa. In time the fig tree and the mosque grew. The growing congregation needed more room. The name of the Mosque changed to Jamaa as-Chleuh.
The Chleuh people were Berber migrants to the old city. They were also employed to provide security for the mosque. The fig tree has grown. The carved patterns on the minaret of the mosque are strongly similar to those on the minaret of the Grand Hassan II mosque.
The Jamaa as-Chleuh mosque can be found on the Rue des Chleuh, literally in the "heart" of the old city of Casablanca. It is near Bab Marrakech, an arched sandstone gateway that withstood the earthquake of 1775. The Chleuh mosque has its own particular beauty. It is a true Friday mosque.
The Chleuh people were Berber migrants to the old city. They were also employed to provide security for the mosque. The fig tree has grown. The carved patterns on the minaret of the mosque are strongly similar to those on the minaret of the Grand Hassan II mosque.
The Jamaa as-Chleuh mosque can be found on the Rue des Chleuh, literally in the "heart" of the old city of Casablanca. It is near Bab Marrakech, an arched sandstone gateway that withstood the earthquake of 1775. The Chleuh mosque has its own particular beauty. It is a true Friday mosque.
4) Church of San Buenaventura
Saint Bonaventure was born Giovanni di Fidanza in Bagnoregio, Italy in 1217. When desperately ill as a boy, he was healed by Francis of Assisi, who declared him to have "Buona Fortuna (Good Luck)." The name stuck. He forever became Bonaventure. In Tangier Street in the Medina of Casablanca in 1890, Spanish Franciscans founded the Church of San Buenaventura.
The church was built on land granted to King Alfonso XII of Spain by Sultan Hassan I of Morocco. San Buenaventura thus became the seat of the Spanish church in Casablanca. In 2010 King Mohammed VI announced a vast project of urban renewal for Casablanca, focusing especially of the rehabilitation of the old city.
Among the monumental buildings to be renovated was the Church of San Buenaventura. The church had ceased to operate as such in in 1968. The Spanish Embassy ceded the property to the City of Casablanca and the church began hosting needy families. By 2016 the church had been changed into a cultural center.
Today the church operates as a youth house, a community sports center, an artisanal ensemble and cultural resource center of the old city.
The church was built on land granted to King Alfonso XII of Spain by Sultan Hassan I of Morocco. San Buenaventura thus became the seat of the Spanish church in Casablanca. In 2010 King Mohammed VI announced a vast project of urban renewal for Casablanca, focusing especially of the rehabilitation of the old city.
Among the monumental buildings to be renovated was the Church of San Buenaventura. The church had ceased to operate as such in in 1968. The Spanish Embassy ceded the property to the City of Casablanca and the church began hosting needy families. By 2016 the church had been changed into a cultural center.
Today the church operates as a youth house, a community sports center, an artisanal ensemble and cultural resource center of the old city.
5) Ettedgui Synagogue
The Ettedgui Synagogue in Casablanca serves as a testament to the Jewish history of the region. Constructed in 1920 by the affluent Ettedgui family, it originally served a vibrant Jewish community. However, the synagogue faced a significant setback when it was accidentally bombed during the Allied invasion of Northern Africa in World War II. The rebuilding efforts, initiated in the 1980s, culminated in 2010, aligning with King Mohamed VI's broader initiative to rehabilitate the Old Medina of Casablanca under the Jewish Heritage program. This program aimed to preserve and restore Jewish synagogues and cemeteries, safeguarding the rich Jewish heritage of Morocco.
Today, the synagogue not only continues to host religious services but also features a museum. This museum houses a collection of photographs, paintings, and cultural objects that chronicle the Jewish community鈥檚 historical presence in Casablanca.
The political backdrop to the synagogue's history involves the reigns of King Hassan II and his son, King Mohamed VI. King Hassan II, often seen as an authoritarian, facilitated Operation Yachin, which significantly reduced the Jewish population in Casablanca by aiding their migration to Israel. Following his death in 1999, his son assumed the throne and implemented significant social reforms. These included a new constitution that reinforced the freedom of religion and acknowledged Judaism as an integral part of Morocco's heritage.
King Mohamed VI's efforts culminated in the synagogue's rededication in 2016, which he attended, underscoring his dedication to preserving Jewish history and ensuring the protection of Jews in Morocco. The Ettedgui Synagogue thus symbolizes not only a rich historical legacy but also the contemporary commitment to religious and cultural tolerance in Morocco.
Today, the synagogue not only continues to host religious services but also features a museum. This museum houses a collection of photographs, paintings, and cultural objects that chronicle the Jewish community鈥檚 historical presence in Casablanca.
The political backdrop to the synagogue's history involves the reigns of King Hassan II and his son, King Mohamed VI. King Hassan II, often seen as an authoritarian, facilitated Operation Yachin, which significantly reduced the Jewish population in Casablanca by aiding their migration to Israel. Following his death in 1999, his son assumed the throne and implemented significant social reforms. These included a new constitution that reinforced the freedom of religion and acknowledged Judaism as an integral part of Morocco's heritage.
King Mohamed VI's efforts culminated in the synagogue's rededication in 2016, which he attended, underscoring his dedication to preserving Jewish history and ensuring the protection of Jews in Morocco. The Ettedgui Synagogue thus symbolizes not only a rich historical legacy but also the contemporary commitment to religious and cultural tolerance in Morocco.
6) Sqala Bastion and La Sqala Restaurant
In 1515 the Portuguese established fortifications next to the place they called "Casa Branca." Technically, the fortification could be called a bastion, a scala or sqala. The sqala, renovated in the 18th century, exists in the old city today but it is now a fortified restaurant, established to fortify against that empty feeling.
La Sqala is nestled in the yellow-orange walls of the bastion at the edge of the old city. It is a peaceful garden restaurant, especially famous for breakfast. What's on the menu in the morning? How about briouates (stuffed pastries), tajines, bastilles (spicy sweet pies) and brochettes (kebabs). Sorry, no alcohol, but there's lots of juice.
The restaurant is attractively designed. The feeling is of a quiet garden haven, away from the busy city. Whatever the hour, try the pastille cream dessert and Moroccan tea. The important things about a restaurant are food, yes, service, yes, and location, location, location.
La Sqala is nestled in the yellow-orange walls of the bastion at the edge of the old city. It is a peaceful garden restaurant, especially famous for breakfast. What's on the menu in the morning? How about briouates (stuffed pastries), tajines, bastilles (spicy sweet pies) and brochettes (kebabs). Sorry, no alcohol, but there's lots of juice.
The restaurant is attractively designed. The feeling is of a quiet garden haven, away from the busy city. Whatever the hour, try the pastille cream dessert and Moroccan tea. The important things about a restaurant are food, yes, service, yes, and location, location, location.
7) Sidi Allal el - Kairouani Tomb
In the 14th century a Muslim saint, Sidi All el-Kairouani, embarked on a voyage from the town of Kairouan in Tunisia. He was going to Senegal. Why he was going to Senegal is not known, for his ship foundered off the coast of Morocco and he was thrown into the sea. As fate would have it, he was rescued by fishermen who became his disciples.
In time, it is believed, he sent for his daughter, her name was Lalla Baida. She too embarked from Kairouan and her ship also foundered but she did not survive. He asked his followers to bury her by the shore. He told them that when he died, he wished to be buried beside her. Their tomb and shrine is behind the sqala in old city.
The shrine was restored properly by Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah in the 18th century. To this day fishermen pray to him as their patron saint. Some say Casablanca got its name from the white walls of the tomb seen from the sea. But who knows if this is true?
In time, it is believed, he sent for his daughter, her name was Lalla Baida. She too embarked from Kairouan and her ship also foundered but she did not survive. He asked his followers to bury her by the shore. He told them that when he died, he wished to be buried beside her. Their tomb and shrine is behind the sqala in old city.
The shrine was restored properly by Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah in the 18th century. To this day fishermen pray to him as their patron saint. Some say Casablanca got its name from the white walls of the tomb seen from the sea. But who knows if this is true?
8) Rick's Caf茅 Casablanca
Go to number 248 Boulevard Sour Jdid, Place du Jardins Public in Casablanca, act natural, knock twice and ask for Rick. That would be a fun way to wind up a busy day in the Old City. There is no Rick, but this is his place; a restaurant cafe that opened in Casablanca in 2004. It is modeled on the shady dive made famous by Humphrey Bogart.
The owners are The Usual Suspects company. They maintain this cafe is the real McCoy. Rick's Cafe was conceived by Ms Kathy Kriger. Kathy retired from the diplomatic service after the 9/11 attacks. Alarmed at the "war on terrorism", she made her bid for tolerance by investing in a Muslim country. The result was Rick's Place. Kathy died in 2018.
The cafe is in a renovated Moroccan mansion with a courtyard built in 1930. Two palm trees stand on either side of the front door. There are three facades. There is a main entrance with sturdy wooden doors as in the movie. There are also a facade facing the sea and a dead-end service entrance.
American architect Bill Willis brought back the architectural details of the film. He developed the curved arches, the sculpted bar, the balconies, balustrades, the lighting, the plants and the shadowy white walls. The fireplaces are made from carved marble and painted tiles. The floors are terra cotta tiles.
There is a Pleyel piano and music every night Tuesday through Sunday. There are often jam sessions with musicians passing through town. Play it again, Sam.
The owners are The Usual Suspects company. They maintain this cafe is the real McCoy. Rick's Cafe was conceived by Ms Kathy Kriger. Kathy retired from the diplomatic service after the 9/11 attacks. Alarmed at the "war on terrorism", she made her bid for tolerance by investing in a Muslim country. The result was Rick's Place. Kathy died in 2018.
The cafe is in a renovated Moroccan mansion with a courtyard built in 1930. Two palm trees stand on either side of the front door. There are three facades. There is a main entrance with sturdy wooden doors as in the movie. There are also a facade facing the sea and a dead-end service entrance.
American architect Bill Willis brought back the architectural details of the film. He developed the curved arches, the sculpted bar, the balconies, balustrades, the lighting, the plants and the shadowy white walls. The fireplaces are made from carved marble and painted tiles. The floors are terra cotta tiles.
There is a Pleyel piano and music every night Tuesday through Sunday. There are often jam sessions with musicians passing through town. Play it again, Sam.
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