Casablanca, Commercial port city in Morocco
This coastal city on the Atlantic stretches along the shore with broad boulevards linking business districts to residential areas and industrial zones. Colonial-era buildings stand beside newer structures of glass and concrete, while the harbor and adjacent industrial facilities occupy much of the northern coastline.
Portuguese sailors established a settlement in the 15th century at the site of a Berber village called Anfa. After an earthquake destroyed the town in the 18th century, it grew rapidly under French colonial administration into a major commercial center, continuing to expand after independence.
Friday prayers gather many residents at the city's mosques, while families come to the coast to drink tea and walk together. In the streets of the center, vendors sell freshly squeezed orange juice, and in the evening cafés fill with locals playing cards or watching football.
Most visitors orient themselves along the coastal road or follow main avenues from the train station toward the harbor district. Official events and religious observances can affect parts of the center, so planning a flexible route through the day works best.
During the Second World War, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met here in 1943 to plan the Allied military strategy. The international airport bears the name of Mohammed V, who led Morocco to independence, and connects the city with destinations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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