1000 Places to See Before You Die 22 - Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is an idyllic little town on the west coast of Morocco. It is conveniently located just a few hours drive from Marrakech, and a lot of Moroccans use it as a weekend getaway. I went there in 2015 on my Morocco roundtrip and you can read a more detailed “review” here ! As I said above Essaouira is a lovely little city, famous for its laid back vibe and hippie feel. We spent the days just relaxing and enjoying the fresh breeze after having been roasted in the desert and baked in the hot cities of Morocco. The history of the city can be traced back to prehistoric times. The bay is sheltered which means the harbour is protected against the strong winds from the Atlantic. Essaouira, consequently, has always been a busy trading port with visits from the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Portuguese among others. In the 16th century European powers repeatedly tried to seize the city, but in vain. The city we see today was bu...