THE CITIES
Morocco is divided into 75 prefectures and provinces.
The main cities of Morocco are:
Casablanca:
Is a city in western Morocco that is on the Atlantic Ocean’s coast. With a population of almost 4 million people, it is one of the most populous countries in the world. Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco and is also, together with Tangier, the main port of the country; it is therefore considered the economic capital. Also, Casablanca is a city that does not boast a particular historical-artistic patrimony or particular environment which put it on a par with other Moroccan cities. It is basically a modern metropolis where next to the big buildings of modern architecture there are groups of poor houses, Its metropolitan area has approximately 7 million inhabitants and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Africa, after Cairo, Lagos and Kinshasa.
Rabat:
the capital of Morocco is a modern city along the country’s west coast that faces the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to being the seat of the Moroccan government, Rabat is the main centre of the traditional cuisine and architecture of the nation, a real gem where the colonial buildings, the boulevards adorned with palm trees and the cosmopolitan atmosphere make the city a must-see destination during the trip to Morocco.
Marrakech:
is the third most important city and is the most important of the imperial cities. It is located in the centre-south of the country, about 150 km from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Today it is one of the busiest cities in Africa and is an important economic and tourist centre. Marrakech boasts the largest traditional Berber market (souk) in Morocco, with around 18 souks selling goods ranging from traditional Berber carpets to the most modern consumer electronics. Handicrafts employ a significant percentage of the population, who primarily sell their products to tourists. The Menara International Airport and a railroad station serve Marrakech, connecting it to Casablanca and northern Morocco.
Tangier:
Called the white city, Tangier is located in northern Morocco, on the northernmost tip of the country on the Strait of Gibraltar just 16 kilometres from the Spanish coast, and is a cosmopolitan and vibrant city that is amphitheatrically developed around a port where millionaire yachts usually dock.
Meknes
is a city located in northern Morocco Positioned about 130 km from the capital Rabat and 60 from Fes, it is reached by the highway that connects these last two cities. It rises on a plateau: it is surrounded by imposing walls and is crossed by a river; all around there is a very fertile valley in which wheat and cereals are cultivated; important resources for the economy of the city.
Agadir:
Is the capital of the region of Sous Massa Draa and is located along the west coast. Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, over the years has become the main seaside resort of southern Morocco. Its sandy shores, its city and dozens of hotels are major tourist attractions for the many visitors from Europe and beyond during the winter months. The city is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods but the waterfront is the real asset. The long sandy beach is bathed by the cleanest waters and kissed by the sun almost all year round.
The Celebration:
For the celebration, a reader is called who reads extracts from the Koran to recall the most significant religious actions and gestures. On this day people eat and dance for the whole afternoon of Sunday: the bride changes different clothes according to the various regional traditions and is carried on a sort of throne called “Hammerya”, loaded on the shoulder and made to turn among the guests. The banquet is usually made up of the animals received as gifts. It is cooked on the spit or in the form of plum tajin; there can also be chicken with olives and seasoned lemon, as well as the inevitable sweets and mint tea.
On the last night of the wedding feast, the bride and groom are loaded onto sedans decorated with precious ornaments and transported by relatives to their car. During the transport, relatives sing a song as a wish of protection for the married couple.
At this point, the bride and groom get into a car decorated with white bows and drive around the village honking their horns so that everyone knows that the wedding has been celebrated. Afterwards, a honeymoon awaits them in a chosen location.
The place of celebration
The wedding is celebrated in a place that is rented for the period of the celebration. In this place there are decorated tables available for the guests, there is also a kind of throne where the bride and groom sit.
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Welcoming the guests
A symbol of hospitality towards the guests of the wedding party is the offering of milk with dates. The milk should be poured into a bowl of good quality porcelain. The dates are rinsed with orange blossom water, the stone is removed and almond or walnut is placed inside. The dates are then placed on a plate in order to obtain a pyramid. It is especially on big occasions when things are done in pomp that milk with dates should be served. In wedding celebrations, as the people present at the party. Even for the bride and groom one makes the other drink a few sips of milk and gives him a date. This is not to tell his future spouse that he is welcome, it is rather for their marriage to be successful: quiet and white as milk, sugary and beautiful as a date.
