Casablanca

The origins of Casablanca remain a mystery, however, according to Leo Africanus (1494-1554) – a Berber Andalusi diplomat author of the book ‘Description of Africa’, the city called ‘Anfa’ was founded by the Romans.
In the early 15th century, Anfa was targeted by the Portuguese and they used the city to build a military fortress which they called ‘Casa Branca’ meaning ‘White House’ in Portuguese.
After the Great Lisbon Earthquake in 1755 and the tsunami which swept the coast of North Africa the city was abandoned. In 1760 under the reign of Alawite Sultan Mohammed III, the city rose in importance as a port for international trade.

Casablanca today is modern, liberal, lively, and colorful. The city began to expand as soon as the dawn of the twentieth century. Casablanca has become an attractive city where people from varied backgrounds inter mix surrounded by a wide range of architectural styles. Casablanca is home to some of Morocco’s historic Art Deco, Art Noveau,  Mauresque, and  Avant-Garde architecture. Casablanca is a keen reflection of an urban culture that is thriving in Morocco.