Hassan Tower - Morocco

 One last card bought at the book fair but not the only one I got from Morocco. 

This beautiful tower is Hassan's Tower, one of Rabat’s great landmarks. It has been included as part of the Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

 It was part of a colossal architectural project, surrounded by gardens, commissioned by Sultan Ya’qub al-Mansur in the 12th century near the estuary of the Bou Regreg River. The building was originally intended to be part of what was to be the second-largest mosque in the world after the Samarra Mosque in Iraq. However, the sultan died before seeing his pharaonic work completed, and in 1755 an earthquake destroyed everything that had been built. Today, only the monumental Hassan Tower and the architectural structure of the planned mosque remain as a testament to the grandeur of al-Mansur’s dream in 1195. Some say that the sultan intended to make Rabat his new imperial capital, as the great mosque of which the tower formed part was out of proportion to the sparse population of Rabat at the time. Others say that it was merely intended to rival the magnificent Mosque of Córdoba, the former capital of the Islamic kingdom in the West. - in: https://www.barcelo.com

Jemaa el-Fnaa - Morocco

I'd like to visit Morocco and Marrakech is definitely on my must visit, I'm just not sure if I'd like this square as I usually dislike crowed places. 

The card was sent by Damien. 

The Jemaa el-Fnaa is Marrakech’s main square and the most important part of the medina. Here, inhabitants and tourists gather both during the day and night to have something to eat, shop or observe the various shows taking place.

© CEOLAK s.a.r.l. - Marrakech-Maroc

During the day the square is full of surprising sights, from monkey trainers who have trained the apes to climb all over tourists to snake charmers, as well as dentists that expose the teeth they have recently extracted.

In Jemaa el-Fnaa, you will also find numerous stands selling orange juice, spices, mint leaves and snails.

At dusk, Marrakech’s main square transforms and the morning stalls disappear to give room to food stands where visitors can have dinner surrounded by Moroccan musicians playing traditional music and various other shows. - in: https://www.introducingmarrakech.com/jemaa-el-fnaa

Erg Chebbi - Morocco

Last month Celina spent a few days in Morocco exploring oasis, mountain, gorges and deserts. Morocco is on my must visit list and I believe that riding a camel on a desert must be something really cool. 

© FISA - ESCUDO DE ORO, S. A.

Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two Saharan ergs – large seas of dunes formed by wind-blown sand. 

The dunes of Erg Chebbi reach a height of up to 150 meters in places and altogether it spans an area of 50 kilometers from north to south and up to 5–10 kilometers from east to west lining the Algerian border. - in: wikipedia

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca - Morocco

This card from Morocco is the last card sent by Andrzej and my 1st from Casablanca. 

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor, and the result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. 

The great Hassan II Mosque was commissioned by its namesake, King Hassan II, in part to provide Casablanca with a single landmark monument.

Maroc Infini

Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, construction of the Hassan II Mosque began in July 1986 on land reclaimed (without compensation to the former residents) from a run-down area near the sea. The goal for completion of the mosque was King Hassan II's 60th birthday in 1989, but it ended up not being finished until August 30, 1993.

The project is estimated to have cost as much as $800 million, funds that were remarkably raised entirely from public subscription. International reports have suggested both local resentment and less-than-voluntary donations to the project, but Moroccans seem to be genuinely proud of their monument. The massive fundraising also had a positive side-effect: it temporarily reduced Morocco's money supply and brought down inflation.

Nearly all the materials of the Hassan II Mosque are from Morocco, with the sole exceptions of the imported white granite columns and glass chandeliers (from Murano, near Venice). The marble is from Agandir, the cedar wood is from the Middle Atlas and the granite comes from Tafraoute.

Over 6,000 Moroccan master craftsmen and artisans were employed to work these local materials into the intricate decorations that embellish the entire structure. When construction passed its deadline in the early 1990s, 1,400 men worked by day and 1,000 worked by night to bring the vast project to completion. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/morocco/casablanca-hassan-ii-mosque

Chefchaouen - Morocco

I love smaller, charming and historical towns. Chefchaouen fits perfectly these categories!! I really want to visit a few places in Morocco and after seeing pictures of this town, I want to go there too. Celina says is really worth to visit. 

Chefchaouen is a small charming city of about 40,000 inhabitants located in northeastern Morocco near the Mediterranean Sea. Situated in the heart of Morocco's Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a tourist’s delight with affordable accommodations, and above all, a picturesque town set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains filled with white-washed homes with distinctive, powder-blue accents.

The city of Chefchaouen was founded in 1471. Located in an enclave difficult to access it dominated the mercantile route between Tetuan and Fez and served as a base to restrain the entrance and influences of the Portuguese of Ceuta. During the 15th and 17th century the city prospered and grew in considerable form with the arrival of the Moriscos and Jews who were expelled from Spain. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956.

VISIUM societé d'imagerie

Chefchaouen was painted blue by the Jewish refugees who lived there during the 1930's. The beauty of Chefchaouen's mountainous surroundings are enhanced by the contrast of the brightly painted medina (old town). It is this beauty and the relaxed atmosphere of the town that makes Chefchaouen very attractive to visitors. The main square in the medina is lined with cafes and filled to the brim with locals and tourist mingling easily.

Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well, as it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists. - in: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/08/chefchaouen-blue-city-of-morocco.html

Tétouan - Morocco

Thanks to Paula now I've cards from all the UNESCO sites in Morocco. Tétouan is a city in the north of the country and its medina was added to the WHS list in 1997. 

Tétouan was of particular importance in the Islamic period, from the 8th century onwards, since it served as the main point of contact between Morocco and Andalusia. After the Reconquest, the town was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees who had been expelled by the Spanish. This is well illustrated by its art and architecture, which reveal clear Andalusian influence. Although one of the smallest of the Moroccan medinas, Tétouan is unquestionably the most complete and it has been largely untouched by subsequent outside influences. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/837

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

PT RR - Group 87 * Castles

Cards from Morroco, France and Portugal sent by Rita Oliveira, Joana Duarte and Vitória.

Colecção de Aguarelas de Alberto Sousa (in Arquivo Militar)

An watercolor of Asilah portuguese fortress. 

Asilah or Arzila is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact. The Portuguese conquered the city in 1471, but John III later decided to abandon it because of an economic crisis in 1549. - in: wikipedia

Photo: P. Morales

  Château de Malle is a classified historic monument and is an exquisite residence surrounded by magnificent Italian style gardens. Built at the beginning of the 17th Century by Jacques de Malle, descendant of an old Preignac family and President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, the Château has remained in the same family without ever changing hands. The estate enjoys, amongst other things, a privileged geographical situation as the vineyard stretches over some of the most sought after land of three communes, Preignac, Toulenne and Fargues. It is also situated across two prestigious areas of controlled appellation of origin namely, Graves and Sauternes. Moreover, the excellent quality of the sweet wine from Château de Malle was acknowledged in the famous classification of 1855 destined for the Universal Exposition in Paris as per Imperial decree. - in: http://www.chateau-de-malle.fr/english/chateau.html

© Foto: Nuno Trindade © Casa dos Postais - www.casadospostais.com

A wonderful night view of the Pena Palace in Sintra.

El Jadida - Morocco

Paula spent her last holidays in Morocco where she had the opportunity to visit a few UNESCO places. She even sent a few cards from there but some of them never arrived and she decided to resend them. The 1st card she sent and that got lost was from Essaouira, this one, sent from Portugal, is from El Jadida, previously known as Mazagan. 

Images du Maroc Eternel / Photo: Mohamed Seghir

The Portuguese fortification of Mazagan, now part of the city of El Jadida, 90-km southwest of Casablanca, was built as a fortified colony on the Atlantic coast in the early 16th century. It was taken over by the Moroccans in 1769. The fortification with its bastions and ramparts is an early example of Renaissance military design. The surviving Portuguese buildings include the cistern and the Church of the Assumption, built in the Manueline style of late Gothic architecture. The Portuguese City of Mazagan - one of the early settlements of the Portuguese explorers in West Africa on the route to India - is an outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures, well reflected in architecture, technology, and town planning. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1058

Rabat - Morocco

A few weeks ago i won a contest on the portuguese community forum and my prize was this card sent by José. A wonderful prize, i must say. The card shows Bab El Had, one of the five gates built within the walls of the Old Rabat. Rabat was added to the UESCO WHS list last year.

Located on the Atlantic coast in the north-west of Morocco, the site is the product of a fertile exchange between the Arabo-Muslim past and Western modernism. The inscribed city encompasses the new town conceived and built under the French Protectorate from 1912 to the 1930s, including royal and administrative areas, residential and commercial developments and the Jardins d’Essais botanical and pleasure gardens. It also encompasses older parts of the city dating back to the 12^thcentury. The new town is one of the largest and most ambitious modern urban projects built in Africa in the 20thcentury and probably the most complete. The older parts include Hassan Mosque (begun in 1184) and the Almohad ramparts and gates, the only surviving parts of the project for a great capital city of the Almohad caliphate as well as remains from the Moorish, or Andalusian, principality of the 17th century. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1401

VISIUM societé d'imagerie

Bab El Had is well preserved and looks very beautiful with fascinating ornaments on it. It has several entries and is also called the “Sunday Gate”. The name comes from the Sunday Market that was near this gate for a long time. Near this gate is the Marche Central, the best and biggest food and flowers market in Rabat. Within one of the gate’s rooms is a photo exhibition. - in: http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/medina-and-kasbah-walk-in-rabat-5252.html

Volubilis - Morocco

The last post of the day shows a new Unesco site from Morocco. The card was sent by Agata "ddonkey" from Croatia.
The Archaeological Site of Volubilis was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

Maroc Infini

Volubilis is an archaeological site in Morocco situated near Meknes between Fez and Rabat. It features the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of northern Africa.

In antiquity, Volubilis was an important Roman town situated near the westernmost border of Roman conquests. It was built on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement from (at the latest) the third century BC.
Volubilis was the administrative center of the province in Roman Africa called Mauretania Tingitana.
Volubilis contains essentially Roman vestiges of a fortified municipium built on a commanding site at the foot of the Jebel Zerhoun. Covering an area of 42 hectares, it is of outstanding importance demonstrating urban development and Romanisation at the frontiers of the Roman Empire and the graphic illustration of the interface between the Roman and indigenous cultures. Because of its isolation and the fact that it had not been occupied for nearly a thousand years, it presents an important level of authenticity. The archaeological vestiges of this site bear witness to several civilizations.
The site has produced a substantial amount of artistic material, including mosaics, marble and bronze statuary, and hundreds of inscriptions. This documentation and that which remains to be discovered, is representative of a creative spirit of the human beings who lived there over the ages. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/836

Meknes - Morocco

This card of the Historic City of Meknes is another Unesco card in my collection. It shows the Bab Mansour Gate.

Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became a capital under Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), the founder of the Alawite dynasty. The sultan turned it into a impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great doors, where the harmonious blending of the Islamic and European styles of the 17th century Maghreb are still evident today. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/793

Bab Mansour gate was named after the architect, El-Mansour, a Christian renegade who converted to Islam. It was completed 5 years after Moulay Ismail's death, in 1732. The design of the gate plays with Almohad patterns. It has zellij mosaics of excellent quality. The marble columns were taken from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. When the structure was finished completed, Moulay Ismail inspected the gate, asking El-Mansur if he could do better. El-Mansur felt complied to answer yes, making the sultan so furious he had him executed. Still, according to historical records, the gate was finished after Moulay Ismail's death. The gate itself is now used as an arts and crafts gallery; entry is by a side gate. - in: wikipedia

More Unesco cards

The unesco cards keep filling my mailbox and that makes me really happy. I'm not far from the 500 sites but i don't think the 500 will arrive still in 2010, i still need 29 cards to reach that milestone.

Tine helped with 2 sites, Kakadu National Park in Australia and the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco. The card from Uzbekistan is also from an Unesco site but i already had that one.

The Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin. It is the size of Slovenia, about one-third the size of Tasmania, or nearly half the size of Switzerland.

"This unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory, has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years. The cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites record the skills and way of life of the region’s inhabitants, from the hunter-gatherers of prehistoric times to the Aboriginal people still living there. It is a unique example of a complex of ecosystems, including tidal flats, floodplains, lowlands and plateaux, and provides a habitat for a wide range of rare or endemic species of plants and animals." - in: www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/147
The card shows the Twin Falls.

"Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is a 'fortified city' along the former catavan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in present-day Morocco. It is situated in Souss-Massa-Draã on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm. Most of the town's inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, ten families still live within the ksar.

Aït-Ben-Haddou has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1987." - in: wikipedia

I chose this card because it was marked as being from Bukhara but after all the card is from Samarkand and i already had a card from this site. However, that's not a big issue.

This Madrasa on the card, Tilla-Kori Madrasa, is one of the three madrasas of the Registan, a square in Samarkand.

The construction of this madrasa started in 1646. The works continued 14 years and were completed in 1660. The name Tilla-Kori Madrasa means “finished with gold.” Besides its main function of teaching students, the Tilla-Kori Madrasa was used as a synodic mosque.

Unesco cards from Morocco

Just a few days ago i didn't have any unesco cards from Morroco but last weekend i was in Madrid and bought this Marrakech card on a street fair. Next monday arrived the Fes card sent by Celina.

On the street fairs all we need is patiente and good luck. Besides this Morocco card, i've also found some hard-to-get unesco cards from Spain.

The Medina of Marrakech is on the Unesco list since 1985. On this card there's the Kasbah Mosque, dating from 1190. Next to the mosque there's the Saadian Tombs, dating back from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). "The tombs were only recently discovered (in 1917) and were restored by the Beaux-arts service. The tombs have, because of the beauty of their decoration, been a major attraction for visitors of Marrakech.

The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty. Among the graves are those of Ahmad al-Mansur and his family. The building is composed of three rooms. The most famous is the room with the twelve columns. This room contains the grave of the son of the sultan's son Ahmad al-Mansur. The stele is in finely worked cedarwood and stucco work. The monuments are made of Italian Carrara marble.

Outside the building is a garden and the graves of soldiers and servants." - in: wikipedia

The Medina of Fes, Fes el Bali, is the oldest and walled part of Fez, Morocco. Fes el Bali is the larger of the two medinas of Fes. Fes el Bali was classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1981.

"One of the most interesting sites in Fes is the Leather Souq and the oldest leather tannery in the world. The tannery dates back at least nine centuries.

The tannery is composed of numerous stone vessels filled with a vast range of dyes and various odorous liquids. The tannery processes the hides (skins) of sheep and goats, turning them into high quality leather products such as bags, coats, shoes, slippers and other similar products. This is all achieved manually, without the need for modern machinery. Men work in unbearably hot conditions (in the summer - 40 degrees and above).
The workers stand in the stone vessels arranged like honeycombs, filled with different dyes, dying the arms and legs of the men. The hides are first soaked in diluted acidic pigeon excrement and then transferred to other vessels containing vegetable dyes such as henna, saffron and mint. When the dying process has been completed the hides are dried on the roofs of the Medina." - in: http://www.technologystudent.com/culture1/fez1.htm