A Day Trip to Essaouira, Morocco

During our visit to Marrakech, Morocco, my wife and I took a day trip to Essaouira. After stopping to photograph goats climing a tree and visiting an Argon oil cooperative, we arrived in Essaouira on the Atlantic coast.

The elevation outside Essaouira is significantly higher, allowing us to get a great panoramic view of the city before descending down to the waterfront town. The city had a resort-like feel until we entered the old city. Just outside the old city, before entering through an interesting fortified gate, we took a moment to admire interesting sculptures on a plaza just outside the walls.

We visited the medina in nearly every city we stopped in. Each had their own character and charm. In Essaouira, the charm was dual. The seaside location lent the area a laid back atmosphere. That atmosphere was contrasted by the ramparts and sturdy walls that gave this medina a greater identity as a fortress. The fortifications seemed sturdier than other medinas and the cannons along the upper ramparts added to the effect. In between, were a host of shops and restaurants much like the other medinas, but with their own charm. The area felt a bit more geared towards tourists than the other places we visited in Morocco. That is not a bad thing, just an observation.

The medina felt a lot like visiting a seaside town in the United States. The shops cater to tourists. That includes local tourists as well as international travelers. There were plenty of shops selling artwork alongside handicrafts, fossils and clothing. I purchased a painting at one of these shops, after waiting patiently my entire trip to find some art to take home. In terms of art, I have a couple of examples to share.

The architecture of the area wasn't particularly exotic. The colors were mostly white, with tinges of blue and plenty of brick or stone work. Vestiges of the fortress could be found in the form of cannons at the lower levels to compliment the ones on the ramparts.

We wound our way through the wide alleys toward the upper level where the ramparts were located. The overlook provided a great view of the ocean along with several old cannons placed along the ramparts for effect. With the strategic advantage of elevation and large cannons, the fortress look solid from this perspective.

It was a bit cool during our visit and we didn't have time to visit the beach even if we wanted to. We would have required an overnight trip to get some beach time in. At the medina end of the beach, the flotsam and debris was not particularly attractive. But the beach areas seemed to be a bit calmer and much cleaner. It looked like an excellent place to absorb some sun given the right temperature and a bit more time.

Essaouira is definitely a place worth visiting. If you are beach person, you will likely want to spend more than just half a day here. With our travel time from Marrakech, combined with our other stops, we only had a few hours to spend here. It was enough to get a feel for the atmosphere (and to get a bit of shopping in). We purchased quite a bit of woodwork made from the Thuya tree, which is a cedar that only grows in Morocco. We also purchased a painting and some fossils as well as woven pillow covers. It was a fun area to shop. We also had lunch in one of the cafes, lunch was forgettable, so I skipped that part. If you get a chance to visit Essaouira, you won't likely be disappointed.

Above is the painting I purchased in Essaouira. It depicts the sport called Fantasia. It is a tribal game that involves coordinated horsemanship. We happened to pass through a town that was having a huge Fantasia festival on our way down. I thought it was an appropriate painting to commemorate our trip to Morocco.

All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.