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.
On the left is a closer view of Hasan II mosque minaret which is 210m high and 60 stories tall topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards mecca.
On the right is a picture of a beautifully painted marble wall on the mosque interior.
A video of the inside of the Hassan II Mosque – The prayer hall (which boasts a retractable roof) can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, while the courtyard can fit another 80,000.
After visiting the Hassan II mosque, we drove around the city to get a view of the prominent areas, parks, landmarks and residential areas.
On the left is minaret shaped Lighthouse El-Hank.
On the right is 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.