Azemmour

Azemmour (Tifinagh: , Arab: rear RTL أزمّور) is a small town located at 16 km in the north of El Jadida and at 72 km in the south of Casablanca, with the mouth of the river Oum Rabie.

Azemmour is undoubtedly established on the antique quoted of Azama, quoted occupied by the Phéniciens before falling under the hands from the Carthaginois and the Romains thereafter. Under the latter, Azemmour knew one boom. The king Juba II supported in Azemmour fishing with the alose, fish which came to clear in the river Oum Rabie.

History

At the 7th century, it is one of the principal cities of the kingdom Berbère of Berghouatas with Anfa, El Jadida and Safi. Under the Idrissides, Azemmour knew a new boom. Moulay Idriss II supported monetary striking in the médina of Azemmour and built there several mosques. At the 11th century, Youssef Ibn Tachfin, the third sovereign Almoravide, seizes Azemmour and built there mosques and a fountain.

Under the Almohades, and more precisely under the reign of Abd Al-Mumin, Azemmour is a flourishing city and this one built there a beautiful mosque and encouraged people to live in Azemmour. The Mérinides built there a médersa and a small fountain in the middle of the médina at the 14th century.

In 1487, Azemmour fell under Portuguese domination until in 1541. Estevanico, born in Azemmour around 1503 was sold like slave and was one of the 4 survivors of the forwarding of Navaez destroyed on the coasts of Florida (relacion of Cabeza de Vaca). It was the first, as a scout of the Conquistadors, to discover and cross the Arizona and the New Mexico. It was killed by the Indians Zuñi in Cibola (one of legendary the 7 gold cities) in 1539. It was the sultan saadien Mohammed Sheik who released Azemmour of Portuguese at the same time as Agadir and than Safi. Under Saadiens, Azemmour commercial with the Europe until in 1672. Moulay Ismaïl Ben Sherif (of the dynasty alaouite) prohibited his exchanges and seized Azemmour. Under the Protectorate French, Azemmour fell into a deep drowsiness.

Today, it is a city which waits until one makes of it a universal historical heritage and counts approximately 40.000 inhabitants. It has a beautiful beach: El Haouzia.

Tourism

Azemmour opens with tourism.

It is very good to stroll in the peaceful and old streets of the médina, among the mosques, the many gravers of craftsmen, and in the market hall which sell Turkish slippers typical of Azemmour, embroidery, Portuguese hats and many other things.

Its cubic and pleasant houses with the brightened white frontages of bougainvilleas were staged among pomegranates, the olive-trees and the tamaris, doing of Azemmour one quoted most peaceful in Morocco. One recognizes the influence Idrisside and almoravide by contemplating certain houses, provided with very beautiful stops but also the Portuguese influence by the presence of beautiful curved doors, with keystone carved.

The walls of the city and those of the Kasbah are well preserved, the mellah is always also charming, and the bastions still armed with Portuguese guns. Dar El Baroud, the explosives magazine set up on the Western rampart of the Kasbah is in restoration, it preserved its bored tower of windows in warheads. The new city has two modest hotels while old the médina of Azemmour has a traditional truth riad now transformed into house of hosts: Riad Azama, of the name of the old city Carthaginian E as well as Oum Errebia with its splendid sight on the river and the delta. Other houses of hosts are in the course of creation in order to enrich this pretty city.

Azemmour has an immense beach appraisal by the followers of the Surf, Kitesurf, and Bodyboard: El Haouzia.

El Haouzia is a halt appreciated of the surfers on the road of Oualidia and the famous wave of Safi.

External bonds

Azemmour
Surfing-club Azemmour Beach - surfing and kite Morocco

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