Morocco Travel Guide

HISTORIC    BUILDING

LANDMARK

BEACH

B&B

Mosquée , which has a unique pentagonal-shaped minaret; it originally acted as a lighthouse.

Citerne Portugaise

Offline map Google map (Portuguese Cistern; Rue Mohammed Ahchemi Bahbai; admission incl
entry to ramparts Dh10; 9am-1pm & 3-6.30pm) On the main street past the souvenir shops
is a vast, vaulted cistern lit by a single shaft of light. The spectacularly tranquil spot, with a thin
film of water on the floor reflecting a mirror image of the vaulted ceiling and elegant columns,
was originally used to collect water. It is famous as the eerie location for the dramatic riot
scene in Orson Welles’ 1954 Othello.

Porte de la Mer

Offline map Google  map (    ramparts   9am-6pm)    Further down    the street  are the ramparts    with

the Porte de la Mer, the original sea gate where ships unloaded their cargo and from where the
Portuguese finally departed. To the left of the gate, through the archway, is one of the town’s
communal bakeries , where local women bring their bread to be baked.

To  the right   of  the sea gate,   a   ramp    leads   up  to  the windy   ramparts    and Bastion de  L’Ange

Offline map Google  map (southeast  corner),    an  excellent   vantage point   with    views   out to  sea and

over the new town and port. Walk along the ramparts to the left to reach Bastion de St
Sebastian Offline map Google map (northeast corner), from where you can see the old Jewish

cemetery. Next to the bastion is the abandoned synagogue Offline map Google map (originally the

old prison) with its Star of David.

Beaches

The beaches to the north and south of town are fairly clean and safe, enjoyable out of season,
but packed in July and August. The beach at Haouzia , northeast of town, is lovely. The
Mazagan resort is situated on this beach. Sidi Bouzid , 5km southwest of El-Jadida, is a
popular spot with sunbathers and surfers. Le Requin Blue ( 0523 34 80 67; mains around
Dh80; lunch & dinner) overlooking the beach in Sidi Bouzid serves excellent fish.

Local   bus 2   runs    from    El-Jadida   to  Sidi    Bouzid  (Dh3.50)    every   hour.

Sleeping

A few hotels near the Cité Portugaise make El-Jadida a nice option to spend a couple of days.
The hotels in the new town are more modern and comfortable but have less character.

Dar el-Manar €€

( 0523 23 35 16 45, 061 495411; www.dar-al-manar.com; r Dh800-1000; )
Fatima fell in love with this wheat field overlooking the ocean and town while out cycling, and
decided to build a lovely house with a vast garden, where it would be good to live and receive
guests. Everything is done to make guests feel at ease, in the five simple but stylish and
spacious rooms, decorated in a contemporary Moroccan style. Guests can use the garden and
the bright dining room. Dinner can be ordered in advance, and is cooked with vegetables from
the organic garden. You’ll get a warm welcome from Fatima and her French husband Pascal, a
professional masseur (massage Dh300). Call for directions; it is near the Phare Sidi Mesbah, a
lighthouse, and is signposted on the road from El-Jadida north to Azemmour.