Iconic Sites and Moroccan Landmarks

Morocco is found in the northern region of Africa. Morocco has many large cities as well as scenic landscapes that make it a great place to visit. Tourism is a prominent industry in Morocco and continuously growing. It attracts visitors from around the world to experience such a dynamic country. Morocco has had many different cultural influences on its development throughout history. These influences can be seen all throughout the country. It’s also reflected in many of the country’s landmarks. Iconic landmarks can be found all over Morocco. This includes historical buildings, natural wonders, and other cultural relics that are worth seeing.

Hassan Tower

The capital of Morocco is Rabat. The sultan of the country named Yaqub al-Mansur established this city as the capital of his empire. He began to construct many structures, one of which was the Hassan Tower. This tower is part of an overall uncompleted structure. The original intent was to build the largest mosque and minaret in the world. Only the minaret was completed, which is the Hassan Tower. This project failed due to his death.

The Hassan Tower is part of a tourist complex which includes the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. When you visit the Hassan Town, you will be greeted by guards to the area. There is a portion of what was supposed to be one of the mosque walls still standing as well as multiple pillars. This structure is credited to have been built by Ahmad Ben Basso who is also the designer of the Koutoubia Mosque.

Koutoubia Mosque

The largest mosque in Marrakesh is the Koutoubia Mosque. This mosque is found in the old city. Surrounding the mosque is a large plaza as well as gardens. This plaza used to host a large number of book vendors and recognized as the center of the bookselling trade in the city. Its name translates into the “bookseller” mosque.

This is a major religious site so non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque. It is still very visually appealing, making it one of the iconic symbols of the city. The mosque is constructed from a unique red stone which makes it stand out from many other surrounding buildings. It was built in a way to keep the privacy of its room occupants.

The tallest structure of the Koutoubia Mosque is the Minaret tower. There are a series of orbs located at the top of this tower that have been the subject of many different urban legends of their origins.

Jemaa el-Fnaa

Most tourists who visit Marrakesh make sure to stop by the Medina Quarter, which is in the old city. This is where you will find Jemaa el-Fnaa, a city square that serves as a local marketplace. You can find everything at this marketplace. There are tons of stalls and vendors selling a variety of food and drinks. It’s a great place to find locally made handicrafts and tourists can find lots of souvenirs.

In addition to vendors, Jemaa el-Fnaa is also where you can find local entertainment. There are many street performances who showcase all around the square. You’ll be able to see snake charmers, dancers, magicians and many more.

Jemaa el-Fnaa has been around with the old city dating back as far as 1070 AD. It has held many uses in the past and has always been renovated for the current times. Now, it’s a landmark that attracts both locals and tourists to enjoy.

Ouzoud Falls

Morocco is a country with many natural wonders with regions of untouched landscape. Ouzoud Falls is one of the natural iconic landmarks to visit while in Morocco. It’s located a couple hours away from Marrakech. Tours can be easily found from this popular city to visit the falls.

The tours to Ouzoud Falls are always in high demand. Tourist get to experience one of the top scenic landscapes in the region. The falls are accompanied by valleys and orchards, all seen from atop the Ouzard Falls. The peak of the falls is about 110 meters high. Visitors can utilize stairs to access the top or bottom of the falls. Wildlife can also be seen at Ouzoud Falls including monkeys.

Ouzoud Falls translates into “the act of grinding grain”. Several small mills are located at the top of the falls and are still in operation today. It’s a preservation site in an attempt to protect this entire area from development and maintain its beauty.

Ifrane National Park

Ifrane National Park is very important to Morocco. It’s a site that drives a lot of eco-tourism. This national park is located in northern Morocco in the Middle Atlas Mountain Range. The park covers a large geographic area which includes not just the mountain range, but also a wetland area with lakes and forests.

Ifrane National park was established to preserve this landscape of the country. It protects a lot of the natural resources and raises environmental awareness in Morocco.

This national park also has a rich wildlife. There are many different species of plant and animal life that live here. Some of the endangered species are various monkeys and birds which consider the Ifrane National Park home.

Casablanca Cathedral

The coast of Morocco is a great destination for tourists and Casablanca is one of the most popular cities along it. The Casablanca Cathedral is located in the middle of the city. This tall white structure is definitely a must see when visiting Morocco.

Casablanca Cathedral was built in 1930 while Morocco was still under catholic rule. It was constructed by a French architect who built it in a Neo-Gothic style. It no longer has religious activity after Morocco gained its independence. First, it was converted into a culture center and school building. It has since been open to the public and various other functions to use. Fairs and exhibits are held here throughout the year for visitors to attend. Or you can take a walk through of the cathedral to admire its interior design.

The best part about visiting this landmark is that the main towers are open for visitors to climb to the top. These towers give scenic views over all of Casablanca reaching out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Erg Chebbi

The Sahara Desert covers the southern region of Morocco. It’s the largest desert in the world so it’s definitely worth seeing. One of the iconic landmarks of the Moroccan portion of the desert is called Erg Chebbi. Erg Chebbi is a sea of sand dunes made from a unique orange sand. These dunes were entirely formed by windblown sand so its scale is impressive. The peaks of the dunes reach upwards of 150 meters.

The best place to begin your journey to the dunes is at Merzouga, which is a tourist center located near the edge of Erg Chebbi. This center has a lot of resources for exploring the dunes. They provide several tours such as camel tours which lead you on a trek through the dunes. They also have an overnight tour where you’ll be able to witness the sunset from the hills of the sand dunes.

Morocco is a great destination to visit. Many of it’s major cities hold several iconic landmarks that continue to attract visitors from around the world. Many of these landmarks are symbols of cultural influences across the country. The country dates back to early societies so the preservation of the landmarks are important for Morocco. As the tourism industry develops, so does the significance of the landmarks to the country. These sites attract lots of visitors every year. Be sure to keep in mind opening times as some popular attractions may be religious sites and affected by holidays. You wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing any of these iconic landmarks while in Morocco.