Casablanca happens to be the economic capital of Morocco, where you have numerous industries and financial institutions. There are not that many places to visit from a tourist perspective other than the Rick’s Cafe, Hassan II Mosque and the oceanfront.
Having come into Morocco during Ramadan, Rick’s Cafe was closed and our first stop was Hassan II Mosque. It is an imposing and beautiful structure, happens to be the third largest mosque in the world, covering two hectares in size with the world’s second tallest minaret (210 meters high).
This is the only mosque in Morocco into which non-Muslims can enter.
Right – beautifully painted marble wall on the mosque interior.
After visiting the Hassan II mosque, we drove around the city to get a view of the prominent areas, parks, landmarks and residential areas.
Right – the graceful Cathedral Du Sacre Coeur, built in the 1930s, its architecture is a harmonious blend of both European and Moroccan style
Is Casablanca worth visiting ? I think one day in Casablanca is enough to see all the attractions. If you can spare an afternoon, I would recommend going to Hassan II mosque. There is a tour guide inside explaining every details about the mosque, like architecture, materials, etc. Tours are available on the hour and we joined a tour @2pm.
Later in the afternoon, we drove to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.