Car Hire Casablanca - Mini guide to Casablanca
Made world-famous by the Hollywood movie of the same name, ‘Casa’ is Morocco's largest city and attracts tourists with its historic architecture, modern mosques and lively stretches of beach.
Situated on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic is the most impressive sight in the city, Mosquée Hassan II. Begun in 1980 and still not yet fully completed, the enormous mosque is the largest in Morocco and one of the largest in the Middle East. Its minaret is two hundred metres high, making it the tallest minaret in the world, and it even has a light at the tip which projects a beam towards Mecca. Meant to represent God’s creation of earth, sea and sky, the mosque includes a floor of glass that reveals the ocean below, and a huge retractable roof. Once completed, the complex will include a medersa (already complete), museum and a library.
Travelling around the city, you will encounter traces of the city’s colonial past. Many of the buildings are in disrepair, but still create a pleasant historic atmosphere. An example is the magnificent Cathedral of Sacré Coeur, with its wonderfully balanced and airy design. To the southwest of the cathedral is the Quartier Habous, or New Medina, and the charming Church of Notre-Dame de Lourdes. Other interesting areas of the city are the old Jewish quarter and the Old Medina above the port, with its small eighteenth-century Skala bastion, restored Ottoman-style clock tower, Koubba of Sidi Belyout, and cluster of old French colonial buildings.
Casablanca’s hospitality is renowned, and the city abounds in first-class accommodations, superb restaurants, and excellent cafes. For a change of pace from the city, head out to the beach suburb of Aïn Diab, famous for its beach clubs. This is the ‘nightlife district’ of Casa, and features numerous restaurants each with its own small pool of ocean water.
Travelling further along the coast from Aïn Diab, you will discover the exclusive suburb of Anfa, with its luxurious villas overlooking the beautiful coastal waters.
Mohammed V International Airport serves regular flights to and from Europe and other world cities. Transportation links into the city are frequent and reliable.
