Casablanca is the biggest city in Morocco located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the region of Greater Casablanca and is the principal economic capital, the primary naval base. Casablanca is the cosmopolitan, industrial and economic heart of Morocco (and its largest city).
The modern city of Casablanca was founded by Berber fishermen in the 10th century and was later used by the Phoenicians, Romans and Merenides as a strategic port named Anfa. The Portuguese destroyed it and rebuilt it under the name of White House, to leave it after the great earthquake in 1755. The sultan of Morocco rebuilt the city as Daru l-Badya and was given its present name of Casablanca by the Spanish merchants who established bases Commercial there. The French occupied the city in 1907, and established the protectorate in 1912 which was when the construction of ville nouvelle began, however, gained independence with the rest of the country in 1956.
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco with a population of almost 4 million inhabitants and also has the largest artificial port in the world. The city is a great metropolis and can be somewhat disconcerting for the tourist. However, once located in the center of the city it is relatively easy to get around.
The center of the city is located on Place Mohammed V, and most restaurants, bars and hotels are within walking distance from here. The old medina is a few streets to the north, the New Medina (also called Habbous) is more to the south. To the west along the Corniche is the suburb of the beach of Ain Diab