Architecture, Morocco

The Hassan II Mosque is the second largest mosque in the world and is located in Casablanca, the economic and business capital of Morocco. Michel Pinseau, a French architect, designed the Hassan Mosque and its accompanying minaret. Pinseau designed the building in such a way that it is able to endure earthquakes. At night the minaret has lasers that shine in the direction of Mecca. Today, the minaret is considered the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet or 210 meters. The mosque stands on a prominent piece of land that rises up on the shore of the Atlantic and provides visitors with the most spectacular views of the ocean. It was decided by King Hassan II that the mosque should be built on this location because of a verse found in the Qur’an, which says that God’s throne was built over the water. The King wanted worshippers to be able to see God’s creations like the ocean and the sea. http://www.morocco.com/attractions/hassan-mosque/

ONCF is the national rail service in Morocco with a total of 669,637 passenger cars serving 1,893 kilometers of track. ONCF provides over 9,767 thousand people with jobs and has thousands of passengers using its services every year. Every two hours there is a train leaving one of the many stations in Morocco providing passengers with reasonably good rail service. In Casablanca, ONCF has established two rail stations: Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port. These two stations are only five kilometers away from each other. Casa Voyageurs is the bigger of the two stations and provides all the long distance train trips around Morocco as well as in and out of the country. The smaller station, Casa Port, is situated near the port in Casablanca and serves mainly passenger or commuter trains coming from the city of Kenitra to Casablanca. Casa Port Station also serves trains that connect to Casa Voyageurs Station. Trains leaving Casa Port and Casa Voyageurs Stations provide passengers with a relaxing trip to whatever destination they are going. You get a wonderful opportunity to see the Moroccan landscape in all its varied forms. You will see from dry country landscapes, urban cities, tropical palms and mountainous areas. It really is a treat, so if there is a destination or a friend you want to visit, then head on down to Casa Port Station and buy your tickets. http://www.morocco.com/train-stations/casa-port/

The Kasbah of the Udayas and its Andalusian garden, the Chellah necropolis, the green belt, the Ibn Sina forest and the test gardens are perfect expressions of this spirit. Plus there is the Rabat zoo, where animals live in faithful recreations of their natural habitats. http://www.visitmorocco.com/en/rabat-green-city

“Bahia”: literally, the marvellous, the brilliant, this name probably refers to the favourite wife of Ba ahmed, the grand vizier who had the palace built. The plans were designed by the Marrakchi architect si Mohamed el Mekki el Mesfioui, like a real labyrinth reflecting the whims of a powerful man. The best Moroccan and andalousian craftsmen worked on this palace for fourteen years. The tiles were imported from Tetouan, the marble from Meknes while the cedar wood used for the painted and shimmering ceilings came from the atlas. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/tourist-attractions/el-bahia-palace

One of the most spectacular monuments in Marrakesh and one of the most beautiful mosques in the western Muslim world. Marked by a complex history, it is actually a double sanctuary with a minaret. The first koutoubia was inaugurated in 1157 and the second one as well as the minaret were built a year later on the initiative of abdelmoumen. The two sanctuaries are distinguished by the T-plan giving great importance to the wall of the qibla (orientation of the prayer). outlined against the landscape, the 77-m ashlar minaret has a ramp which leads to the top, soberly decorated with carvings and white and green tiles on the upper parts of the façade and the pinnacle. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/tourist-attractions/the-koutoubia-mosque-esplanade

Dar el Badii, the unrivalled palace was built between 1578 and 1603 by Yacoub el Mansour, an almohade ruler. The richest raw materials, some of which came from india were chosen for its construction: gold, onyx, italian marble…The andalusian influence in the plans of the palace is undeniable and one may think that the unknown architect must have come from granada. an almost absolute symetry was imposed in the plan of this magnificent residence completely built on arches with extremely solid bricks. The interior gardens, called gardens of desire, of which only an immense esplanade remains today with artificial lakes and orange trees, are surrounded by the ruins of the palace and high walls on which a multitude of storks is nestled. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/tourist-attractions/el-badii-palace

The royal necropolis of the saadian family, a first series of funeral chambers was created after the burial of Prince Mohamed Cheikh in 1557. his son had a koubba erected, known as koubbat lalla Messaouda, where he was himself buried in1574. in 1591, ahmed el Mansour had his mother buried there. his three successors also lie there. a second edifice was raised, with a central room called the room of the twelve columns, it houses the sultan ahmed el Mansour’s grave, the mirhab room, the room with the three alcoves. another space is reserved to children’s graves. all the rooms are exquisitely decorated. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/tourist-attractions/the-saadian-tombs

Right in the heart of the medina, the Ben Youssef Medersa, one of the biggest medersas in the Maghreb, is one of the most remarkable historical monuments in Marrakesh and is worth a visit. it was built in the 16th century by the saadian abd allah al ghalib, which is confirmed by the inscriptions on the lintel of the entrance gate and on the capitals of the prayer room. Created on a 1,680-sq.m quadrilateral plan, the medersa used to accommodate 130 students rooms over two floors around an interior patio leading to the prayer room. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/tourist-attractions/ben-youssef-medersa

If this is your first visit, you should take a long walk through the old Medina, it's very entertaining, full of life, and apart from learning history and Tetuan culture, you can buy genuine local crafts. The Tetouan Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage place and it's well worth it! http://www.tetuania.com/en/guide-of-tetouan/things-to-do#

The Museum of Mediterranean Cultures Kasbah Museum is located in one of the historic districts of the city. This museum has seen its interior layout and its rejuvenated collection. It offers a route of Tangier and its region through the mazes of time, from prehistory to the nineteenth century. https://www.visittanger.com/fr/experiences/profitez/tourisme-culturel/musees