One of the ten most beautiful towns in the world → Essaouira, Morocco

When you come to Morocco, you must visit Essaouira on the Atlantic Ocean. Here’s why 👇🏻
1. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
2. In 2012, the ancient city was selected by CNN Travel as one of the top ten most beautiful small towns in the world.
3. Due to its geographical location, it has become a famous windsurfing center in Morocco and has earned the reputation of "African Wind City".

Essaouira means "little picture", "well-designed" or "picturesque" in Arabic. In fact, as its name suggests, although the city is small in size, it attracts many photographers and filmmakers every year to shoot pictures with its beautiful natural harbor and sea views. Although history books indicate that records of the city date back to the 1700s, the town's history is much older than that. As early as the 15th century, the Portuguese, who invaded one of the Moroccan coasts, had already built a huge stone wall here, a fortress that still surrounds the medina today. After the Moroccans finally recovered the lost territory, in 1764 Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah (also known as Mohammed III, c. 1710-1790) moved to the town then known as Mogador (meaning Little Fortress). He hired French architect Théodore Cornut to start rebuilding it, creating a mixture of European and Moroccan styles. The city slowly enjoyed its golden age as merchants from Europe, Jews and British traders settled there.

"Essaouira is the only Arab city where the majority of its inhabitants were once Jewish"

The Sultan then named the city "Essaouira". However, after the French established their colony in Morocco, they changed the town's name back to Mogador. It was not until the 1960s that the city regained its name. However, even now, you will often see the name "Mogador" next to this city. The Jewish community contributed greatly to her development. At the time, the Jewish community comprised 40 percent of the city’s population. When Israel was founded in 1948, this area was almost lost as a Jewish habitat.

Today, visitors can still visit the two synagogues and the Jewish cemetery. This charming place, you don't have to rush to enjoy it, somehow, time seems to stop in this place, between trips, you will forget about daily life and immerse yourself in the leisurely environment. Essaouira is different from other cities in Morocco. It is not bound by the hustle and bustle of time. Even at 10 o'clock in the morning, the streets are often empty. Locals in Morocco usually get up lazily to prepare for the new day. Despite its popularity with foreigners and tourists from all over the world, the spirit of Essaouira remains untouched by time and modernization.

Post by icon katy | Mar 22, 2025