Essaouira - Morocco

Last month Brigitte travelled to Morocco and visited a few of the country's UNESCO sites, including Essaouira, one of my missing sites. We agreed on a swap and she sent me this nice card from there.

Situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Essaouira is the gateway to the deep south of Morocco renowned for the hospitality of its inhabitants, the mildness of its climate and its superb architecture.

Essaouira is an ancient historical city, founded in the 7^th century BC, and has been inhabited by the Phoenicians, Berbers and Romans. In the 15^th century under the rule of the Portuguese, it became an important trading post. The city was then named Mogador a name it retains to this day.

In 1764, Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah undertook the construction of a new harbor for European trade. A Frenchman, Théodore Carnut, was then commissioned to draw the plans of the city, using the fortified town of Saint Malo, in France, as a model. Thus, Essaouira is one of the few cities around the world, which was completely planned before its construction, which gave it the name of Es Saouira, the Well Drawn. The city later played an integral role as an international trade port with the rest of the world until the early 20^th century.

The city amazes with its stunning architectural features, and multi faceted cultural influences. It is home to an incredible convergence of many cultures united in peace and facing the inspirational influence of the ocean.

Since 2001, UNESCO has listed the Medina of Essaouira as a World Heritage Travel Site. The Medina, in the heart of Essaouira is an eloquent testimony to its glorious past. - in: http://www.moroccotraveltours.com/morocco/essaouira