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The name of the city comes from the word suirah - “beautifully drawn”, and indeed, Essaouira is distinguished by a regular layout unusual for the country, which is due to the French slave Sultan Sidi Mohammed, who in 1760 proposed the project of the current building. In the Roman era, the "purple" islands of Mogador located near the coast (it's the same ancient name Essaouira) supplied a dye extracted from shellfish for the royal robes. Such a mantle was on the shoulders of Ptolemy at his meeting with Caligula, and it also served as a pretext for the murder of the Moorish ruler, who claimed his superiority in clothing.

A busy fishing port is the epicenter of urban activity. Today, tourism competes with sardine fishing as the basis of the city's economy, although there are few attractions in the traditional sense in Essaouira. The main ones are the Skala fortress (Skala), from where a wonderful view of the bay opens, and a small city museum of Sidi Mohammed (rue Derb Laalouj; open: 8.30-18.00; closed: Tue; admission fee). Guests of the city spend most of their time at the bazaars of wooden products, admiring the works of local craftsmen offered by merchants.

To the south of the port stretched sand dunes diabata (Diabat) where the hippie colony once settled under the leadership of Jimi Hendrix. Today the beach is chosen by windsurfers.

Holiday experience in September

At the end of September, it is quite hot in the city of Essaouira, although not as much as in summer. For those who do not like the Moroccan heat, this month is suitable.

Youth rest

There are not enough entertainments for children in Essaouira, so I would not go here with them, but for young people and single tourists, the city is just perfect. Interesting, beautiful, photogenic.

What to take with you on vacation?

Fishing enthusiasts can take a fishing rod with them. Insurance and vaccinations are not needed, this is not tropical Africa. A backpack, a good camera, and sturdy shoes will come in handy.

Where is the best place to stay?

The city has a large selection of hotels, from cheap to expensive.

For lovers of silence and national color, I would advise you to settle in the historical part - the medina. There are riads and villas, usually small and with staff who can speak up to five European languages. The price there can be from 50 to 100 euros per night or 500 per week.

I decided not to spend money and settled in the Atlantic hostel, it is cheap there, a bed, from 500 rubles. It is also located in the historical part of the city, it is popular with foreign tourists, they make up the majority of the guests there.

What to do at the resort?

The Atlantic Ocean is not very suitable for swimming, but the place near Essaouira is one of the best in Morocco for windsurfing, the wind is quite strong.

There is an amusement park in the southern part of the city, but it is quite simple.

Most interesting area for walks at any time of the day - a cape with a fortress. It is always full of people, locals and tourists. The first ones are quite sociable, they can both sell something and just want to get to know and chat with a foreigner. Near the fortress there is a wall with cannons, towers, gates, numerous fishermen and, probably, a hundred cats are on duty waiting for fish or something else tasty from numerous tourists. Fans of photographing cats will love this city.

Near the fortress there is an inconspicuous museum, you can go there for half an hour.

There are not so many of them, for example, in the village of Diabat outside the southern part of the city you can ride a horse. Horse riding tours cost about 1000 rubles per hour, along the way you can see the beaches, sand dunes and small villages nearby.

If you don't like horses, then you can go on a tour of the Berber villages on foot. A full day will cost about 2000 rubles, a traditional lunch and mint tea are included in the program.

In Essaouira itself, the beaches are not very good, it is best to swim south of it at Jimi Hendrix Beach, he allegedly liked to relax there. On the whole, I local beaches liked less than, for example, Crimean or Moroccan on the Mediterranean coast.

In terms of shopping, Essaouira is inferior to Rabat and Casablanca, but interesting in its own way. There are a couple of shops with windsurfing equipment. AT historical center for shopping, you can go to the Bin-Al-Aswar shopping center. It is next to the fortress, and in the southeast corner of the city is the Carrefour shopping center, it is quite typical for the country in terms of assortment. In Morocco, it is worth buying something from local clothes, jewelry and utensils.

Where can you eat?

I can recommend three establishments that I myself visited: Driss confectionery (sweet and salty pastries), La Triskalla cafe with fish and vegetarian dishes and Jalil cafe of Moroccan cuisine.

About the quality of food and service

I was surprised that in the city on the ocean, fish and seafood are quite expensive for Morocco, in Tangier the prices are lower and the range is larger.

How much does it cost to eat? About food prices.

You can have an inexpensive snack with harira soup and a sandwich, in local canteens and food stalls it will cost about 100 rubles. Lunch in a cafe with a menu will be about twice as expensive, and in a restaurant, lunch or dinner is about 10 euros.

Coffee or tea with mint costs about 20 rubles per cup. About 150 rubles is the national dish - tagine.

Pros of living in Essaouira

1. Small beautiful city, does not press the size.

2. Easily accessible from Marrakech and Casablanca (they have international airports).

3. Low prices.

4. One of the best fortresses in the country and west coast Africa as a whole.

5. Windsurfing.

6. Nice people, especially fishermen and lots of cats.

7. National cuisine.

Should you visit Essaouira?

Yes, I advise everyone to visit Essaouira. I think that the city is good to visit at any time of the year, be sure to take a good camera, make it as a keepsake beautiful pictures and try your hand at windsurfing. Those who like to relax without haste can visit here for a week.

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Essaouira located on the coast Atlantic Ocean and is one of the oldest cities Morocco founded in the 7th century BC by the ancient Phoenicians. In those years the city was known under the name "Tamusida". During Roman rule, thanks to the extraction of bright red purple, Essaouira became the main supplier of purple paint to the countries of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Small islands located in the waters of the city were then also called "purple". For centuries, the city was owned by the Berbers, the Portuguese, the Spaniards and the French, and in 1765 the territory of Essaouira (then the current Moroccan resort was called "Mogador") was seized by Sultan Mohammed III bin Abdallah from the Alaouite dynasty. Under him, the city turned into a prosperous trade port, which existed in this status until 1893, until the French army captured the Malian city of Timbuktu, which was an important strategic object in this region North Africa. After this event, the value of Mogador, as shopping center Atlantic, significantly weakened, and sea routes were closed. Today, Essaouira is considered popular tourist resort Morocco, which is visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists.

One of the main historical attractions of Essaouira is old district Medina, consisting of white houses, traditionally surrounded by a low wall, and representing a kind of labyrinth of narrow streets and absolutely identical buildings. Medina is not designed for cars, and even two-wheeled traffic vehicle here is extremely difficult. In this old residential area several Muslim mosques with important cultural significance for the city.

In 2001, this unique area of ​​Essaouira was included in World List UNESCO heritage. Not far from the Medina is a medieval defensive fortification, made in the form of a fort. Massive cannons, located in wall niches specially designated for them, still look very impressive. Many of them belonged to the Spaniards, and some were given to the city as gifts from foreign merchants who visited it for trading purposes. From the height of the fortress walls, a stunning view of the Purple Islands adjacent to the coast opens up. Over the years, the territory of Essaouira has been used as a film set for famous historical films. In particular, such famous films as Othello, filmed in 1952 by director Orson Welles and Kingdom of Heaven (2004), starring Orlando Bloom, were filmed here.

Another important historical site in the life of the city is the slave market. It was here that cheap labor was brought from all regions of the African continent. Hundreds of slaves who entered the market in shackles and with ropes around their necks were waiting for their future masters here. From Essaouira, slaves were exported to various European colonies around the world. Not far from this place is the Museum of Sidi Mohammed bin Abdullah, which presents works of art created in Morocco over the long centuries of the existence of the state.

For numerous tourists who come to Essaouira every year, Sighain Street becomes a real discovery, where local merchants offer city guests their jewelry, including elegant earrings of various shapes and sizes, engraved bracelets, pearl, silver and gold necklaces, rings and other all kinds of jewelry. In addition, here you can buy elite furniture made of rare woods, porcelain and ceramics, expensive bronze figurines, real Persian carpets and other luxury and interior items. Like all eastern countries, Morocco is characterized by the ability to bargain, so when you see a coveted item for purchase, you should not take it at the offered price. According to Arabic tradition, you should slightly challenge the announced amount and, through slight manipulation in the direction of reduction, reduce the cost of the goods to the maximum possible figure.

Excellent infrastructure and well organized transport connection allows resort guests to easily move around the country using comfortable buses, specially equipped for long distances, and trains. In particular, the most common route here is the road from Essaouira to such famous cities Morocco, like Marrakech and Casablanca. Unlike these cities, Essaouira does not have a large number of hotels in the city, but the rough waters of the Atlantic are to the taste of surfers who regularly come to the local shores to catch the next wave. No wonder there are annual competitions in this sport. For the same reasons, there are usually few sunbathers here. Moreover, among them there are almost no families with small children. A rather cool breeze from the ocean, combined with high waves, makes its own adjustments to the traditional beach holiday on the coast of Essaouira.

Soft enough in the city climatic conditions. average temperature air temperature in summer is +24 degrees, while the water temperature, as a rule, does not exceed +19. In winter, a little cooler, but also comfortable. The wind from the Atlantic blows constantly throughout the year. This factor scares away many fans. bright sun and a beautiful tan, preferring the more southerly Agadir. Meanwhile, Essaouira fully satisfies the desires of travelers who come to its shores in order to get unforgettable experience from the historical and cultural sights of the city, as well as to experience the incomparable charm of North Africa, combined with the famous oriental hospitality.

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Essaouira (or Esauira), formerly Mogador, is a port city (former fortress) in Morocco on the Atlantic coast, 170 kilometers north of Agadir and 176 kilometers west of Marrakech.

The small island of Mogador belongs to the city, whose name the city bore before the recognition of the independence of Morocco.

The name Mogador is believed to be of Portuguese origin.

Essaouira is one of the most imposing Moroccan cities, immediately recognizable by its dazzling white houses with bright blue windows, wide sandy beaches and a crowded fishing port with numerous sellers' stalls.

The city is known for its artisans working with local arborvitae wood.

Essaouira is extremely popular with photographers and artists due to its picturesque marine species and windsurfers, who consider the local skiing to be the best in Africa for the highest wave on the coast and a light constant breeze.

But just bathers or lovers of sunbathing will not be very comfortable there - for the same reason.

The name of the city comes from the word suirah, which means “beautifully painted” in Arabic, and indeed, Essaouira is distinguished by a regular layout unusual for the country, which is due to the French slave Sultan Sidi Mohammed, who in 1760 proposed the project of the current development.

In the earlier Roman era, the “purple” islands of Mogador (also the ancient name of Essaouira) located near the coast supplied a dye extracted from shellfish for the royal robe.

Such a mantle was on the shoulders of Ptolemy at his meeting with Caligula, and it also served as a pretext for the murder of the Moorish ruler, who claimed his superiority in clothing.

Business and busy fishing port - the center of urban activity.

Today, tourism competes with sardine fishing as the basis of the city's economy, although there are few attractions in the traditional sense in Essaouira.

The main ones are the Skala fortress, which offers a wonderful view of the bay, and the small city museum of Sidi Mohammed.

Guests of the city spend most of their time at the bazaars of wooden products, admiring the works of local craftsmen offered by merchants.

The fortress-port of Essaouira is located 173 km from Agadir. The city is easily recognizable by its dazzling white houses with bright blue windows. Essaouira (or the second spelling: Essaouira) is primarily appreciated by windsurfers - for the highest wave on the coast and a light constant breeze. But just bathers or lovers of sunbathing will not be too comfortable there - for the same reason.

Potters quarter

The Potters' Quarter is one of Essaouira's most popular attractions.

Strange as it may seem, life here continues, as it did several centuries ago, even despite the constant visitation. tourist groups. Everything around this area consists of continuous chimneys and resembles one large furnace. The city of Essaouira has its own great culture that dates back to the seventh century BC. Pottery here proves the presence of Carthaginians and Phoenicians. Known in Roman times as a source of crimson dye, Essaouira was conquered by the Muslims in the 10th century. They were followed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. There was also a large Jewish quarter in the city.

Essaouira creates its own unique character, as evidenced by its folk traditions and art. Even today, many of Morocco's artisans, artists, musicians and intellectuals hail from Essaouira. The city hosts a festival each summer that proves the vibrant artistic character of the city.

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Essaouira beaches

Essaouira as a place beach holiday, of course, not the best option - it's too windy here and almost always not hot. But in order to feel the proximity of the ocean, breathe in the sea air, try the freshest seafood and fish, it’s hard to think of something better than Essaouira in Morocco.

For a beach holiday in Essaouira, it is convenient to choose one of the hotels located in the coastal zone. But if you wish, you can stay in the old city - the medina. Accommodation in an authentic hotel - a riad - will allow you to fully experience the charm of the old Mogador.

The port of Essaouira is famous not only rich history, beautiful design, but also a popular market among residents and tourists, where you can always buy fresh fish and crabs.

In the eighteenth century, the port of Essaouira carried out almost half of Morocco's maritime trade, and for some time was even the main port of the country.

Unlike other ports in Morocco, unique historical details have been preserved here: ancient walls and medieval defensive cannons.

As before, the port area is always full of fishing and tourist ships.

During the day, there is literally no crowding here: local fishermen bring their catches of fish, seafood and crabs. In order to sell as much as possible, sellers often put on real performances.

Near the port is a large number of restaurants and cafes where they will gladly cook fish or crabs that you purchased at the market of the port of Essaouira.

Fort Essaouira

The fortress of Essaouira was built in the 18th century by a French architect. The fortifications of the fortress are one of the main attractions of the city and, together with other heritage of the colonial past of Morocco, are of great value to tourists.

The first settlers in this place were the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC. Then the city was strengthened and expanded in the 15th century by the Portuguese and in the 18th century by the Alauites, during whose reign the fortress was built. city ​​fortress, along with long sandy beaches, a developed seafood trade and a wonderful climate contributes to the development of tourism in Essaouira, being a favorite holiday destination for many sailors, artists and musicians.

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