Agadir, The city of Agadir which is actually one of the most touristy cities in Morocco, originally known as Santa Cruz. Agadir took this name in 1541 after it was liberated back from the Portuguese. The only trace left of the old city is the ancient Kasbah on the summit of Cap Ghir hill, which was built in 1540 to siege the Portuguese fortress and then used for defence purposes. . Agadir was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and was rebuilt 3 kilometres to the South of the original location, where it turned into an international tourist resort. Its port is now very active again as the first fishing port in the country. Agadir is now a city with large boulevards connecting the different sections, intersected with beautiful gardens and parks. Its tourist capacity is still growing since new hotels are being built along the white, sandy and splendid beach stretching for six kilometres bordered with eucalyptus, thyme and tamarind trees and protected from the waves of the ocean by Ghir Cape.
bathed in sunshine the whole year round, the city offers facilities for sailing, wind surfing, horse-riding, tennis, golf and a host of other sports activities. Those in search of the quiet life may simply lounge in the shade of a eucalyptus, sipping a fresh fruit cocktail.
Perched between the mountainous regions of the Anti-Atlas and the western extreme of the High Atlas, Agadir is a departure point for a variety of marvellous excursions.
Agadir is surrounded by several beautiful outskirts:
Immouzzer, 59 km to the Northeast of Agadir, every year this village holds the annual honey festival (April-May).
Taroudant, about 81 km to the East of Agadir, this small city drenched in history, the old quarter of which is surrounded by 8-meter high fortifications running along 8 full kilometres built at the beginning of the 18th century, is famous today for its picturesque countryside and the handicraft items one finds in its markets.
Tafraout, about 148 kilometres to the Southeast of Agadir at an altitude of 1200 meters, Tafraout is located in a valley surrounded by cliffs of pink granite sculpted by countless years of erosion. Palm, olive and almond trees attractively dot this extraordinary landscape.
Tiznit is 92 km to the South of Agadir, this city is famous for jewellers who make superb silver jewellery. |