long considered to be one of the treasures of the Moroccan coast, the 3,000 year old city of Essaouira condinues to be a thriving port, as well as a UNESCO listed heritage site. its winding souks offer an alternative to the pestering stallholders of Marrakech, and you can discover local crafts, textiles and jewellery, as well as a rich variety of decadent spices, that fill the air with their heady perfume.
Visitors should brace themselves for the gusts of winds that permeate the streets of the city however. its not for nothing that it was dubbed the “ wind city of Africa“, and keen windsurfers will find plenty of waves to enjoy off the coastline. Within the town itself, an exploration of the medieval walled fortress that encompasses the Medina is a must, creating a dramatic, labyrinthine effect that would not be out of place on a movie set-in fact, the historic ramparts of the Medina formed the iconic opening shot of Orson Welles’ adaptation of Othello.