Fortress of Mazagan in El Jadida

Fortress of Mazagan in El Jadida, Morocco

I and my colleagues decided to visit El Jadida, Morocco during the Eid El Fit’r holidays last June 25-26, 2017. It was an amazing vacation for we had stayed overnight in Sidi Bouzid, explores the beach and visited the Fortress of Mazagan in El Jadida.

El Jadida is a port city on the Almantic coast of Morocco, located 106 km south of the city of Casablanca. While in El Jadida, we go directly to the well-known tourist destination, the Cite Portugaise where the Fortress of Mazagan is located. The Gothic architecture surrounds the vicinity and it was really amazing. The old buildings are still elegant as it portrays its historic representation of the place.

The Portuguese City of Mazagan was constructed in the form of fortified colony along Atlantic coast in early sixteenth century.  The place is defined as an example of Renaissance Fortification with ramparts and bastions around the place. The lovely architecture envisages its remarkable history that depicts the Portuguese designs.

 

As you walk along the corridors and alleys, you can notice the best preserved historic buildings, including the Catholic Church of the Assumption and the Portuguese cistern. Unfortunately, during our visit, the Church was closed which is also the access to the cistern, an underground chamber built in 1514. Anyway, we still have next time. . . I was really expecting to visit that famous cistern because as told, the thin water on the floor creates fine and exciting reflections from the little light and the spartan shapes of the columns and the roof.

You can also notice that the structures are built in the Manueline style of late Gothic architecture. The fortress alone is a clear testimony of the architectural concepts of Renaissance adapted to the advent of the firearm.

The Portuguese City of Mazagan, a UNESCO heritage, is an outstanding example of the exchange of influences between the European and Moroccan cultures from the 16th to 18th centuries, and one of the very first settlements of Portuguese explorers in West Africa on the route to India. The fortress area is also surrounded by canyons.

We had so much fun just by walking around. Tiring, but it was magnificent experience. So, what are you waiting for, book your travel to the historical place of El Jadida and see for yourself.

 

Source of information:

wikipedia

unesco.org