When Europesure considers movie icons born in August, it’s hard for us to look beyond Ingrid Bergman, born on August 29, 1915. The Swedish actress starred, with Humphrey Bogart, in the 1942 film, Casablanca, considered the most beloved movie of all time.
Despite none of the movie being shot in Morocco, an air of mystique has built up around the Moroccan city, making it a potential must-visit for travellers and Europesure travel insurance customers wanting to go beyond the tour company itineraries that mainly feature Marrakech and Tangier.
So why head to Casablanca? The city really suits those who don’t want to do the typical touristy things in Morocco and wish to see more of local life. It is the administrative and business capital of Morocco and the country’s largest city. It is less frenetic than Marrakech and Tangier and comes with a lot of French colonial influence, plus a blend of art deco, neoclassical and neo-Moorish architectural styles. In fact, the architecture is so stunning, there is a call to make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite the entire city centre having been designed in the 20th century.
What to do and see in Casablanca
Casablanca’s ‘attractions’ may not be as well-known as some of those to be found in other parts of Morocco but are well worth exploring. One of the few mosques open to non-Muslims can be visited here, with the Hassan II Mosque being a gloriously beautiful building to appreciate and explore, through special one-hour tours, bookable within the city. These explain all about the second largest functioning mosque in Africa.
There are also museums, such as the Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum, that houses the private collection of art, jewellery, posters and crystal, collected by a Moroccan businessman. Then there is the Villa des Arts, with 800 permanent artworks on display.
Stunning public spaces delight the eye. These include Place Mohammed V, designed by Henri Prost and distinguished by beautiful buildings and a grand fountain around which water shows, accompanied by music, are staged. Meanwhile, the Royal Palace is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco, with its French and North African architectural influences intermingled.
Old and new Casablanca
Step into the United Nations Square, at the entrance of the Medina, and you are at the point at which old meets new in Casablanca and on the site of the old souk. This is a literally a hub from which you can branch out into different areas of Casablanca – designer shops on the one hand and traditional Moroccan thoroughfares on the other. Just don’t forget to take pictures of the square and its clock tower before moving on.
The old Medina area is largely residential now but you can walk its narrow streets visiting bars and eateries. The new Medina provides today’s shopping experience but if you long for a feel of the souk in Marrakech, head to the Derb Ghallef flea market, the Central Market with its traditional Moroccan babouche slippers, or the lively Great Habous olive market.
Coastal Casablanca
There are gloriously modern experiences to absorb, such as a drink in Bar 28, on the 28th floor of one of the two skyscrapers to be found at the Casablanca Twin Centre, from where a magnificent view of the city can be enjoyed. Close to Casablanca city, you will find the only amusement park in Morocco, in the form of Parc Sindibad, and the Tamaris Aquaparc waterpark.
Heading to the coastline of Casablanca, in the Ain Diab area, leads one to the sophisticated Corniche, where top-end restaurants and bars might challenge the budget a little more. Here, there are experiences to tick off, including seeing the mussel shell mural in the Bleu restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel.
With other places in Casablanca to visit such as the Notre-Dame de Lourdes church, with its lovely stained glass windows, and the gorgeous art deco Cinéma Rialto, there are definitely a fair few things to fill the itinerary.
Rick’s Café, Casablanca
However, top of the list, for anyone drawn to Casablanca by the Berman/Bogart movie, has to be a visit to Rick’s Café. This was established for 20 years now and is the baby of American woman Kathy Kriger, who has lovingly created the essence of the fictional gin joint into which Bergman wandered. With menu delights such as champagne oysters, chargrilled rib-eye, Rick’s cheesecake and chocolate lava cake, plus piano and jazz sessions from the venue’s very own ‘Sam’, aka Issam Chabaa, this is a not-to-be-missed deep dive into movie history.
Staying safe in Casablanca
Yes, there are risks to visiting Morocco, with the terror risk being one of them., and there is always that of theft and pickpocketing and harassment of female travellers. Some of these are less evident in Casablanca than they are in Morocco’s tourist hotspots. In fact, when inside venues such as the Morocco Mall, featuring brands like Dior and an indoor aquarium, ice rink and fairground, you can feel a million miles away from the issues of the packed souks of Marrakech, Rabat or Tangiers.
If you exercise common sense, tap into local knowledge about what to do and what not to do, dress conservatively and also back your trip with comprehensive travel insurance – topped up with a terrorism disruption add-on, if you want additional peace of mind - a trip to Casablanca should be fabulous. It is an experience to which you can attach all of the nostalgia of the movie.
Do not travel without the right travel insurance, however. Whilst you will still find exotic Arabian carpets that define the souks of Marrakech and Tangiers when shopping in Casablanca, these are not magic carpets and cannot get you back home, if you suffer a medical emergency or injury, as an emergency travel medical assistance service can. When you throw in all the other benefits of travel insurance, it really should be a case of saying, “Here’s looking at you, Europesure.”
Lead photo by Photo by Eka Maitri Viryani on Unsplash
