Morocco Travel Guide

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    Top Sights

Medina  &   Ramparts

    Sights

1    Aplanos    Gallery

2    Cannons

3    Centre de  Hassan  II  Rencontres  Internationales

4    Church of  San Bartolome

5    Galerie    Hakim

6    Palais de  Raissouli

    Sleeping

7    Hôtel  Azayla

8    Hôtel  Belle   Vue

9    Hôtel  Mansour

10   Hôtel  Marhaba

11   Hotel  Patio   de  la  Luna

12   Hôtel  Sahara

13   Hôtel  Zelis

    Eating

14   Al-Madina

15   Casa   García

16   La Symphonie   II  des Douceurs

17   Restaurant la  Place

18   Restaurant Yali

19   Restaurante    Oceano  Casa    Pepe

    Drinking

20   Café   Tanger

As Christianity conquered the forces of Islam on the Iberian Peninsula in the 14th and 15th
centuries, Assilah felt the knock-on effects. In 1471 the Portuguese sent 477 ships with 30,000
men, captured the port and then built the walls that still surround the medina, a trading post on
their famous gold route across Africa. In 1578, King Dom Sebastian of Portugal embarked on
an ill-fated crusade from Assilah. He was killed, and Portugal (and its Moroccan possessions)
passed into the hands of the Spanish, who remained for a very long time.

Assilah was recaptured by Moulay Ismail in 1691. In the 19th century, continuing piracy
prompted Austria and then Spain to send their navies to bombard the town. Its most famous
renegade was Er-Raissouli ( Click here ), one of the most colourful bandits ever raised in the
wild Rif Mountains. Early in the 20th century, Er-Raissouli used Assilah as his base, becoming
the bane of the European powers. Spain made Assilah part of its protectorate from 1911 until
1956.

Sights & Activities

With more than 50 resident artists, five galleries and several artist studios and exhibition