Safi, Port city on Atlantic coast in Morocco
Safi is a port city on Morocco's Atlantic coast with a walled medieval medina featuring several gates that link different neighborhoods. The older quarters contain narrow streets, traditional houses, and busy markets typical of Moroccan urban centers.
Portuguese forces occupied and fortified the city starting in the late 15th century, shaping its layout and architecture for decades. This foreign presence left behind military structures that influenced how the city developed and remain visible today.
Pottery workshops are scattered throughout the city, with artisans still using traditional hand-shaping methods visible to passersby. You can watch craftspeople at work and see how clay moves through each stage of creation.
The city is best explored on foot, especially the older quarters with their narrow streets and markets. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as the streets are uneven in places and shade is scarce in the alleys.
Large earthen kilns and chimneys rise from Potters' Hill at the medina edge, where craftspeople produce ceramics using inherited methods passed down for centuries. These working kilns remain part of daily production, not preserved as historical artifacts but as active workshops.
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