Morocco Travel Guide

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ART GALLERY

CLOTHING

MUSEUM

30 Avis

31 Budget

32 Bus  10  &   36  to  Gare    Routière    Ouled   Ziane

33 Bus  81  to  Nouvelle    Medina

34 CTM  Bus Station

35 Hertz

36 National

37 President    Car

Villa des Arts

Offline map Google  map (    0522   29  50  87; 30  Blvd    Brahim  Roudani;     10am-7pm   Tue-

Sat) Located in a converted art-deco building near the Parc de la Ligue Arabe, this gorgeous
1930s gallery holds exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art.

ANCIENNE MÉDINA

Casablanca’s small and dilapidated medina gives an idea of just how petite the city was before
the French embarked on their massive expansion program. Most of the buildings date from the
19th century, so it lacks the medieval character of other medinas. Plans are afoot to restore
many buildings.

Enter the medina from the northeast corner of the Pl des Nations Unies near the restored
clock tower Offline map Google map ( , and note the dilapidated Excelsior Hotel opposite it. The

narrow lanes to the east are piled high with cheap shoes, high-sheen underwear and household
goods. The rest of the medina remains largely residential. The old city’s main Friday mosque is
the Jemaa ash-Chleuh along Rue Jemaa ash-Chleuh Arsalane.

On the north side of the medina, facing the port, you’ll see the last remains of Casablanca’s
18th-century fortifications. Known as the sqala (Offline map ), the bastion offers panoramic views

over the sea.

MAARIF

Southwest of the Parc de la Ligue Arabe is the city’s business centre and the place to head for
international designer brands.

Twin Center

Offline map Google  map (   cnr Blvd    Mohammed    Zerktouni   &   Al-Massira  al-Khadra)  Twin    Center

marks the high-end of the chic shopping area and contains a shopping mall, luxury hotel and
office space. Smaller boutiques on the side streets and around the covered Maarif market are
more atmospheric and good for bargains.

Jewish Museum

( 0522 99 49 40; 81 Rue Chasseur Jules Gros, Quartier Oasis; admission Dh20, with guide
Dh30) South of Maarif in the suburb of Oasis is Casablanca’s only museum. Rarely open since
the 2003 bombings that targeted Jewish interests in the city, it’s important to phone ahead to
check. If you’re lucky enough to see this beautiful villa surrounded by lush gardens, you’ll be
setting foot in the only Jewish museum in the Islamic world. It relates the history of the once-