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Pikarey

El Jadida is a port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the province of El Jadida. It has a population of 144,440 (2004 census) and is the port for Marrakech, 110 miles to the south. El Jadida, previously known as Mazagan (Portuguese: Mazagão), was seized in 1502 by the Portuguese, and they controlled this city until 1769, when they abandoned Mazagão.

Mazagan was built in the early 16th century on the Atlantic coast and was used as a defense settlement. Later in 1769 the settlement was taken over by the Moroccans. Today, the city of El jadida serves as a good example of how well the Moroccan and European cultural influences can mix. The interchange of influences can be seen in the technology, architecture and the town planning found in the Portuguese city .

Today the Portuguese fortifications, or military constructions of Mazagan are part of El Jadida, the Moroccan city. The fortifications which include the original ramparts, bastions and cistern, are an excellent example of the military design used in the Renaissance era. You can also see the surviving remains of the Church of the Assumption. This building was constructed using a late Gothic architectural style called Manueline.

The city of El jadida has survived for over five hundred years as a settlement that has been influenced by both European and Moroccan cultures. This has led El jadida being recognized internationally and this in turn has has boosted the tourism industry of the area.
Recently, UNESCO (UN educational, scientific and cultural agency) has included the El jadida on its list of World Heritage Sites because of its rich history. This official list is well-known all over the world and includes over six hundred places, including manmade landscapes, natural sanctuaries, archaeological areas, individual monuments and urban centers. There are now nine World Heritage sites in Morocco and this makes it the country with the most sites on the UNESCO list.

Source: Stayin Morocco