El Jadida

Sister cities

• Miami
• Sidi Bennour
• Nabeul
• Arenzano
• Barcelos
• Vierzon
• Tacoma
• Sète
• Sintra
• Varennes

History

El Jadida traces its origins to the 5th century BC, when it was founded and settled by the Phoenicians. Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, an anchorage used by boats appears to have existed at the current site of El Jadida throughout the Middle Ages and in ancient times. The name Mazighan was first documented by the 11th-century Arab geographer al-Bakri. The city was then taken over by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah in 1769 and remained largely uninhabited, having been dubbed al-Mahdouma ('The Ruined'). The town underwent a revival and soon outgrew Azemmour as the most important city in the area. Alongside the Muslim population was also a community of Jews, who participated in the city's revival. At the beginning of the French Protectorate in Morocco (established in 1912), the city was developed as a tourist resort, one of the earliest initiatives to develop modern tourism in Morocco. Aided by its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation since 2004, the city continues to be a tourist destination today.