This excursion from Marrakech will take us to Essaouira. Essaouira is a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which was designed by European engineers. Old brass cannons line the walls, and there are ocean views. Strong “Alizée” trade winds make the city’s crescent beach popular for surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
The Medina of Essaouira (formerly “Mogador”) is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, an example of a late 18th-century fortified town, as transferred to North Africa by European colonists. Major problems currently are deterioration of the extensive ramparts around the Medina; and widespread violation of laws against vehicles (primarily mopeds) within the Medina.