History of Essaouira: From Mogador to the City of Trade Winds

The history of Essaouira is fascinating and dates back to antiquity. Known as Mogador (derived from the Phoenician 'Migdal' meaning tower), the area was already frequented by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC.

The Romans later established a purple dye production center there, extracting this precious pigment from seashells. Over the centuries, the Portuguese set up a trading post and later a military detachment.

The city we know today was built in the 18th century under the reign of Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, who commissioned the French architect ThÚodore Cornut. A student of Vauban, he designed a unique fortified city in Morocco, with its ramparts, Sqala, and grid layout.

Essaouira became a prosperous port, connecting Morocco to Europe and Africa. In the 19th century, it was Moroccos leading port, exporting goods worldwide.

After independence in 1956, the city declined before being rediscovered in the 1960s by hippies. Orson Welles filmed scenes of his movie 'Othello' here, and Jimi Hendrix stayed in the city, contributing to its legend.

Today, Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains one of Moroccos most popular destinations, blending history, culture and natural beauty.