ESSAOUIRA FULL DAY

ESSAOUIRA

ESSAOUIRA which was better known as MOGADOR, is a charming little town and seaside resort in which we visit the old MEDINA dating back to the 18th century and the old Portuguese fortress.
In the morning we live Marrakech taking the road to the west and to the ATLANTIC ocean.
ESSAOUIRA lies at only 160 km from Marrakech, before arriving in Essaouira we pass a forest of ARGAN trees, which only exist in south west Morocco and Mexico.

The ARGAN tree is an ever green tree which gives fruits that the people here use to extract oil. You also see goats climbing up the trees to graze up the fruits and the leaves.

We start the visit from the MEDINA where you will see a number of markets full of different kinds of goods as well as small shops. We will also visit the MELLAH which used to be the Jewish quarter of ESSAOUIRA and the SKALA which is the old Portuguese fortress dating to the 16th century and where you see the old cannons of Spanish origins. They are made of bronze and some date from the 18th century. Essaouira was built in 1760 by SIDI MOHAMED BEN ABDELLAH.

The whole town extends over a low and marrow promontory, widely exposed to heavy tides in winter. Visitors will be surprised by its rectilinear streets which make it different to any other MEDINA in Morocco.

At the end of the visit we go to the harbour for lunch in a restaurant from which you can see the fishermen coming back from the sea and unloading their fish.

Free time after you have finished all your visits.