Ifran History

In the regional Berber language the word 'yfran' is plural for 'cave' and when you explore the surrounding limestone plateaus you will find an abundance of them. During the town's founding days, many homes were carved out of the surrounding rock. Today there are no people living in these caves which are now used as mangers and store houses. Most people prefer to live above the ground in houses. However these caves still make for interesting exploring - though sometimes they can be confusing so it is a good idea to get a trustworthy guide.
Modern Ifrane only truly began life around 1929 during the Protectorate period when the French decided to establish a 'hill station' here. The city rests on an elevation of 1600m above sea-level and is surrounded by pine, cedar and oak forests that make it a relatively cool city. As a result, many tourists from other parts of Morocco come here during the hot summer months to escape the heat. Perhaps the most distinguishable trait of Ifrane is its unusual Alpine architectural style - quite out of character with the rest of Moroccan architecture. The French villas are now predominantly Moroccan owned but they still retain their unusual charm.

OUARZAZATE: Centre of the south

Ouarzazate is by all standards a different city from most Moroccan cities of its size: about 40,000 inhabitants.Its focal point is the long and wide street Avenue Muhammed V which starts before the city starts, and continue along the modern buildings, the kasbah of Tifoultoutte, and ends after Ouarzazate ends.Ouarzazate is designed for heavy tourism, and is well established with numerous hotels of high standard, but relatively few restaurants. There is a strange and empty feeling to Ouarzazate, except in the centre where a typical Moroccan market dominates.
Seeing the kasbah from the other side of the river is a great experience. Through a frame of the palm branches you see the structurers of the kasbah slightly bending and stretching to the sky. All in all it could remind you of Yemen, an impression that is helped by the white painting around windows on some of the houses.

The Glaoui, the last ruling family of the south and a strong contender for control over Morocco, had this palace built in Ouarzazate — but they never lived here. Still it is quite impressive, especially with the help of government aided reconstruction in recent years. Some parts can be entered by visitors, like the visiting hall.

Casablanca History

The history of Casablanca dates back to the 10th century BCE, when the first human settlement was believed to be established by Berber fishermen.
The next to come through the area were the Romans late in the 1st century BCE, who used Casablanca as a strategic port.
Again in the 7th century the Berbers came to Casablanca, which they inhabited and named, The Kingdom of Anfa. This independent kingdom was surrounded by Moslem ruled areas, which they were able to fend off until 1068, when the Almoravids conquered Anfa.
During the next 400 years, the area of former Anfa developed as an important port town for the ruling Merenid people. Exports from the area traveled as far as mid Italy.
In the 15th century, the Merenids were rejected from the area, and Anfa again became an independent Kingdom. Unfortunately, Alfa began giving refuge to pirates who would attack Portuguese towns, and eventually Portugal destroyed Alfa.
In the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese took control of Alfa and rebuilt what it had destroyed, renaming it Casa Branca.
An earthquake destroyed the city in 1755, after which a Moroccan sultan rebuilt it and took control of the town.
After years of Spanish and French occupation, Morocco gained its independence in 1956 and also regained control of Casablanca.

Rabat Weather & When to Go

Rabat makes for a wonderful winter getaway; temperatures are consistent throughout the year and even though winters barely exist, summers are far from scorching. Daily averages rarely dip under the sixties and nineties are equally rare. Rainfall occurs primarily between October and March, the bulk of precipitation coming down in the winter.
The busiest time of year for Moroccan tourism is the summer, though travelers come from France for spring break in April and from far and wide between Christmas and New Years.
That said, of the five-million-plus annual tourists to the country every year, half are checking in with family while the others mostly hit up the more popular areas of Marrakech , Casablanca , and Fez , leaving Rabat rather free of congestion no matter what the season.
source : www.tripadvisor.com

Agadir - Know Before You Go

Agadir Culture :

To give you a leg up to understanding the Moroccan culture, there are a few things that help to know. The first is that people in Morocco are polite, even to people they dislike, and so it helps to know that politeness can go a long way. Speaking of politeness, if you are going to be on the beach, you can wear shorts, but other than that, long pants are a must. Male or female travelers should not wear shorts around town, even when the temperature is 118 degrees. When it comes to places of worship, Agadir is not Rome; unlike the Roman churches, tourists should not enter the mosques, especially non-Muslims tourists.