Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context.
Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco with Europe and the rest of the world.
Port and tourist city, its medina (old town) is protected by ramparts of the eighteenth century, called Skala Kasbah and imagined by European engineers. Dotted with ancient copper guns, the fortifications offer views of the ocean.
The city is 173 km north of Agadir, 174 km west of Marrakech, and 406 km south of Casablanca.
Its medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
