Casablanca to El Jadida and Rabat: Private day trip

This city of El Jadida was founded in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers. Originally known as Mazaga, it was one of their first settlements in Africa on the route to India. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the city was a melting pot of European and Moroccan cultures, as evidenced by the architecture and town planning. On a short walk you’ll be able to see the City Mosque, Chapel of St Sebastian, Church of the Assumption, synagogue, and El Jadida Lighthouse. The Portuguese fort is one of the best preserved coastal bastions in the country, and walking its ramparts, you’ll not only get great views, but see the prototype for Renaissance military architecture. For many, the highlight of the visit are the 16th century cisterns. Originally a warehouse that was converted by the Portuguese into a water storage facility, there’s often a shallow layer of water on the floor which reflects the vaulted columns in a grand manner.

Rabat was founded in the 12th century as a port for launching attacks on Iberia, and the city briefly served as Morocco’s medieval capital. After nearly being abandoned, Rabat became a stronghold for Barbary pirates in the 16th century, and they continued to use the port until the mid 19th century. In 1929, the French made Rabat Morocco’s capital and revitalized the city. Unlike Morocco’s other major cities, Rabat is relatively quiet, meaning you can peacefully explore the medieval alleys of its UNESCO-listed medina, and blue-painted walls of the kasbah. Don’t miss the Hassan Tower - the minaret and ruins of what would have been the world’s largest mosque when it was commissioned in 1195 by Caliphate Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur.