Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, principal port, and economic capital — though not the national capital (Rabat). Its name evokes both the 1942 Hollywood film and the Art Deco architecture of the French Protectorate era.
Highlights
- Hassan II Mosque (one of the world's largest, partly over the ocean)
- Art Deco downtown and the Old Medina
- Morocco Mall and Corniche oceanfront
- Africa's largest stock exchange (Casablanca Stock Exchange)
History
Built on a Berber village called Anfa, Casablanca was destroyed by Portuguese raids and rebuilt by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah in 1755. French Protectorate-era development from 1912 turned it into a major port and the country's economic engine. Post-independence (1956) it has continued to dominate Moroccan business.
Economy
Casablanca handles roughly 50% of Moroccan financial transactions, hosts the Casablanca Stock Exchange (Africa's third-largest), the headquarters of most Moroccan banks (Attijariwafa, BMCE), and major industrial zones.
Neighborhoods
Maârif and Anfa are upscale commercial; the Habous district is the 20th-century 'new medina'; Aïn Diab is the seaside resort area; Sidi Bernoussi is a major industrial zone.
Distances from Casablanca
Calculate distance and flight time from Casablanca to other major African cities: