Casablanca: Art Deco I

Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, stands out for its extraordinary architectural diversity shaped by its French colonial past and rich local heritage. Strolling through its wide boulevards reveals Mauresque architecture that blends Moorish design with European Art Deco, creating a unique urban landscape. This guided architecture tour offers an in-depth exploration of the city's most iconic sites, beginning in the historic Habous Quarter at Mahkama du Pacha, a masterpiece of Moorish craftsmanship built between 1948 and 1952. The nearby Royal Palace, although inaccessible from the inside, captivates visitors with its elaborate façade, grand entrance and the elegance of its surrounding walls. The itinerary continues toward Immeuble Liberté, a 1951 landmark by Léonard Morandi recognized as North Africa’s first skyscraper at 78 meters. The Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes, built in 1954, offers a striking shift in aesthetics with its minimalist modernist form and spectacular stained-glass walls.