casablanca
Clockwise from top left: Interior arches and mosaic tile work inside Hassan II Mosque; Dar Dada restaurant in the old medina; Cinema Rialto, an example of French colonial architecture; the colourful detailing of the Hassan II Mosque; a traditional Moroccan market selling souvenir bowls; tea is an important part of Moroccan culture Previous pages: Front view of the Hassan II Mosque and its 689-foot minaret
CULTURE
Casablanca’ s most iconic landmark is the Hassan II Mosque, with its 689-foothigh minaret— the world’ s second-tallest— towering above the skyline. The site partly juts out over the ocean, following a Quranic verse that states:‘ the throne of God was upon the water.’ This opulent mosque holds up to 25,000 worshippers inside and a farther 80,000 in the vast courtyard.
It’ s a masterclass in Moroccan craftsmanship that took six years, around 6,000 master artisans and thousands more workers to build, from the hand-carved cedarwood ceiling and lace-like stucco to the colossal titanium and brass doors. The only Moroccan mosque open to non-Muslims, it offers guided tours outside prayer times; you can also visit with a private guide.
Downtown Casablanca has a rich 20thcentury architectural heritage, and a good place to start is buzzy Place Mohammed V. The Wilaya( local government building) dominates the south side, its gothic and Islamic echoes topped by a modernist clock tower, while the Palais de Justice embodies neo-Moorish style. To the north, La Poste Centrale is resplendent in art nouveaustyle mosaics, while the Bank Al-Maghrib is wrapped in carved stucco.
To the west is the dazzlingly white, ultra-contemporary Casablanca Grand Theatre, which will be one of Africa ' s largest theatres when it opens. For more imposing edifices, stroll along Boulevard Mohammed V, dubbed the‘ Moroccan Champs-Élysées’, or take a tour with an architect from Casamémoire, an organisation dedicated to preserving the city’ s architectural legacy.
Other architectural gems have been reborn as museums and galleries, including the neo-Moorish Villa Carl Ficke, built in 1913 for a German entrepreneur, which is now the Casablanca Memory Museum, and the Villa des Arts, set in a stunning 1930s villa, which holds regular art exhibitions, workshops and events. The delightful Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum is tucked into an art deco townhouse, with Orientalist travel posters, ornate Amazigh jewellery and exquisite perfume bottles among the Moroccan decorative arts on display. And the city is also home to the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only museum in the Arab world dedicated to Jewish history and culture.
Casa’ s contemporary arts scene is booming, with independent galleries such as L’ Atelier 21, La Galerie 38 and Loft Art Gallery showcasing established and emerging local artists. You’ ll find art on the streets, too, with organisations such as Sbagha Bagha and Casamouja inviting Moroccan and international artists to paint monumental murals on the city walls. Take a street art tour with Alouane Bladi, a non-profit that creates programmes for artists and schoolkids.
The city also has a jam-packed festival calendar. In July, Anfa Park south of the centre plays host to Jazzablanca, with 10 days of concerts by well-known and up-and-coming artists from Morocco and around the globe. While jazz remains at its heart, everything from funk to fusion features on the line-up. In the same month, the Alif Festival showcases modern Arabic music, while in September, L’ Boulevard puts the spotlight on urban music.
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