Essaouira

We took the 9 a.m. bus from Marrakech to Essouira this morning. It was a three hour trip with one short stop. Essaouira is a port city and considered one of the best anchorages of the Moroccan coast since ancient times. A trading post was established in the 5th century BC. In 1506, the king of Portugal ordered a fortress to be built there. The fortress fell to local resistance in 1510, and continued to grow and prosper. In the mid 18th century, King Mohammed III ordered the fortress and the city to be rebuilt. By the 19th century, Essaouira was the most important port in Morocco and became the harbor of Marrakech. Essaouira has a natural bay with beautiful beaches extending north and south. It has a temperate climate year round. 

We had a wonderful day in Essaouira, shopping the local markets, walking along the rempart walls, exploring the port, full of fishermen and their boats, and having a delicious lunch at a restaurant recommended by friends.