I’ve seen the movie Casablanca too many times to count, most of them in my middle and high school French classes, but it’s still definitely one of my favorites. Apparently, the Moroccan city has very few resemblances to the Hollywood movie, which makes sense, considering that it was filmed on a Warner Brothers lot in California. Despite this unfortunate realization, Casablanca is still a place I’ve always wanted to visit. As a French major, I have a lot of appreciation for different francophone architecture and various cultures, and because the city was occupied by the French in the early to mid-1900s, it has a decent amount of French influence (around 33 percent of Moroccans speak French). Sitting right on the coast, Casablanca has definitely become a business hub: fast-faced, modern, and geared toward locals, compared to Marrakech about three and a half hours south, which seems a bit more inclined to tourists, but still has a very traditional feel. Both cities are places I would love to visit eventually, but for the sake of the word limit, I will stick to Casablanca. Like I said earlier, Casablanca is very much a modern metropolis, more inclined to the locals, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer. The city has a blend of very modern and traditional Moroccan culture.      

One of Casablanca’s most famous sites, if not the most famous, is the Hassan II Mosque. Built directly on the coast overlooking the Atlantic, the mosque was built as a tribute to the former King of Morocco. It took seven years to build and was completed in 1986. Hassan II is actually the seventh largest mosque in the world, but has the tallest minaret, standing at 700 feet. There are tours available to visitors and if you aren’t Muslim and want to see the interior of the mosque, are required. 

Medinas are an important aspect of north African cities and in Casablanca, it’s no different. A medina is a historic walled area of the city (the word medina means city in modern Arabic), with narrow corridors and maze-like streets. The Casablanca medina has an incredible history and a bit of a world away from the French colonialism projected through the rest of the city; it definitely showcases a more local way of life.    

Because I’m such a huge fan of the movie, Casablanca, I could never leave Rick’s Café off this list. The restaurant was opened in 2004 and is inspired by the cafe in the movie. There’s even a piano.  

Casablanca definitely isn’t lacking in beautiful beaches and resort areas. La Corniche is an upscale beachfront district with countless restaurants, shopping, nightclubs, and has direct beach access. It’s more of the vacation destination side of Morocco, more touristy and less traditional, but sometimes that’s what makes it fun. 

If you ever find yourself in Casablanca, I’d recommend visiting a few of the places I suggested above, they won’t disappoint. Also — watch the movie, even if it does romanticize the city a bit.    

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Corniche_de_Casablanca_Maroc.jpg

https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/a-brief-history-of-casablancas-old-medina/ 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hassan-ii-mosque 

https://www.cityorcity.com/casablanca-or-marrakech/#:~:text=Casablanca%20is%20the%20business%20capital,atmosphere%20(despite%20some%20hassles). 

https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/the-top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-casablanca/ 

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https://res-1.cloudinary.com/enchanting/f_auto/et-web/2018/12/Enchanting-Travels-Morocco-Tours-Hassan-II-Mosque-in-Casablanca.jpg

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