A visit to the Medina of Essaouira

A visit to the Medina of Essaouira

After an exciting walk and poses to the different landmarks of Essaouira, Morocco, we proceed to the Medina, of course your travel will not be complete without it. Once you had entered the place, you can see the beauty of Essaouira showcasing its 18th-century invigorated walled city that was constructed in a contemporary European architecture with a touch of a North African setting. The "Medina" of Essaouira is walled with several gates and geometrically, it was influenced by European architecture.

According to its historical background, the Medina of Essaouira was laid out with the influence by the work of a military engineer Vauban at Saint Malo, that’s why the view of the place has a European touch.

As we walked along the narrow streets of Medina, different handicrafts are available and prices are not that much high, it’s worth to grab a souvenir like key chain and refrigerator magnets, which of course are my favorite collections.

Our target to visit the place is also to have a photo of the famous location of the Game of Thrones Season 3, when the Princess of House Targaryen, Daenerys bought the unsullied warriors in Astapor city. Unfortunately, the place is under renovation, and we are not allowed to enter. We were dismayed of course, but we have to try and look for other ways in order to have a closer look of the view. Hurray, that there is a nearby hotel just beside the Medina, on its upper deck, it was a good location to take a full shot of the view, the exact location where Daenerys Targaryen was standing in front of the unsullied and the Walk of Punishment scene. T’was a very exciting tour that I had a visited the location of my favorite series and at the same time the place is known to be one of the Unesco heritage sites.

After a tiring but momentous journey, the best part of our tour is to fill in our empty tummies. In the Medina area, along the seacoast line, there are lots of restaurants offering fresh seafoods ready to be grilled. . . 

Really, the place is worth coming back. . . Hope you enjoy your visit to Essaouria. 

(Note: I just copied the GOT photos from other sites. Acknowledgement to the owner)

Scala du Port Tour in Essaouira, Morocco

My journey in Essaouira continues. .  . on 6th November 2016.

I, with my colleagues, visited the famous landmark and considered as one of the main attraction in the city, the Scala du Port in Essaouira, Morocco. It is actually an old bastion build on the city walls, and you can notice the French architecture on it. The scenic view of the place is magnificent as it is overlooking the Atlantic waves with the chanting sounds as it crashes to the stones of the port embankment.

While roaming around, the atmosphere noticeably becomes touristy as more and more people of different nationalities are wandering around, others are by groups with their guides.

Since it is a tourist attraction, there is a mandatory entrance fee of 10 MAD.

As you enter the gate, you will be amazed of the promenade with green colored cannons along the sides, as it seems you are walking towards a castle shown in the Game of Thrones series. And mind you, this is the exact scene location of the GOT Season 3. Remember the Astapor City on Slaver’s Bay? This is it. In GOT, Astapor is an old city, and is renowned for the special slaves it produces, the Unsullied. 
 

The place offers the most spectacular views of the city walls, the fishing port, and the sea with swirling seagulls. It really gives the romantic picturesque view as the fortress of Essaouira.

We posed at the door of the port known as the “Bab am Mersa” which is built in blocks of stone. Based on its history, the harbour entrance (Porte de la Marine) was built by an English renegade by the name of Ahmed el Inglizi. The design of the two towers of Scala the Port is inspired by the Tower of Belém in Lisbon.

The Islamic Crescent, the Star of David and the Scallop of Santiago are all inscribed in the gates which symbolizes as the faith of Islam, the Jewish community, and the traditional emblem of St. James, respectively.

The Skala port is a bastion that defended the city in the eighteenth century. Inside the walled area you will find the ancient bronze cannons, which were manufactured by the Spanish and the Portuguese. From the highest point of the tower, you can view the Medina and the beach.

 

The Skala du port is actually located right next to the fishing harbor that you will enjoy the astounding views of the bay of Essaouira, the Medina and the Mogador Island.

I noticed that most of the people are taking a pose on this open circle on the wall, so we tried also to capture a view on it, and it was startling that your background will be the walled city view.

The harbour fortifications add more to its attraction, with the color blue boats around the port.

 

It was a nice and historic visit, that I was stunned by its ancient architectural touch of the structure. The atmosphere will lead you back to its ancient period of construction, as if I had visited a place during the time of castles and kings.