Casablanca airfares, Morocco (CAS)
Casablanca airfares, Morocco (CAS)
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco yet, not the capital of it. However, it is the home of the major harbor of the country. Because of the port and its importance in industry, it is considered the economic capital of this African country.
The city is the sixth largest city of the continent and has a population of over three million. Its metro area has an area which is almost four times larger than the city itself, which is the home of just under 4 million. Because of this, Casablanca is also the largest city of the Maghreb, which is the “place of sunset” formed by Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
Casablanca has a hot and arid climate, which is characteristic for the whole of North Africa. The average temperature of the year is around 18 °C. There is a considerable difference in the temperature in winter and summer. The hottest period of the year is between June and October, having the average temperature over 20 °C, while during the winter months it drops below 15 °C.
There are many buildings that were styled like the ones built in France in the first half of the 20th century. The Hispano-Mauresque is the most typical architectural style of the New Town. This area is without a doubt the most important district of the city with many notable buildings. Another characteristic architectural style of this area is the Art Deco. The Hassan II Mosque was also designed by a French architect and has the tallest minaret in the world, 210 meters high. The combined capacity of this Islam place of worship is over 100,000. Situated on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic, it is a state of the art mosque featuring heated glass floor, sliding roof and it can withstand earthquakes.
Tourists, because of its interesting structure, also visit the medina district of the city. Recently the bastion of this pedestrian area was restored to its original estate. The Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur is just another example of a beautiful Mauresque building. The public park adjacent to the cathedral is the Parc de la Ligue Arabe, the largest green area of the city. The Port of Casablanca is also a popular destination for tourists.
The Mohammed V International Airport is situated at half an hour drive from the city. This airport has direct connections with all the major European and African cities and New York, too. Over the last three years, the passenger traffic grew with more than half a million each year, reaching 5.8 million in 2007.
If you want to swim or just want to sunbath on the beach, than you have to find the El Hank Lighthouse by the Hassan II Mosque. The Boulevard de la Corniche is the border of the beach with the same name. This 300 meter long beach is very popular both among locals as well as among tourists.
The Sinbad Amusement Park is a much frequented entertainment spot of the city.
While the Old Medina is a beautiful historical district, the New Medina is one of the top shopping locations. The shops are offering everything from handcrafted goods to fabulous jewelry, and many more. This medina is known as the Quartier Habous. Several shops are also surrounding the Place des Nations Unies.
If you visit this area, you will probably have a delicious lunch at one of the nice restaurants. Like in any seaside cities, in Casablanca you can find numerous restaurants and eateries offering fresh seafood. The regional cuisine includes some specialties made of seafood, couscous, pastilla and tajine. The pastilla is a type of pie and the main ingredient of it is pigeon. The best dishes of the European cuisine can be found in the Central Market. The real cognoscente tourists can visit Patisserie Bennis, which has the best cakes in Casablanca. After dinner you can visit one or even more of the local clubs. The best place to do so is the Ain Diab, where you can find live music bars and classy nightclubs too. The best examples of the nightclubs in this area are the Mystic Garden and Candy Bar, where you can party until dawn.
Casablanca is a perfect holiday location because of both its history and its present. Despite the rich history and versatile old buildings, the city is ever evolving and offers something new even if you are a returning visitor.
