Just like in the tourist and popular cities of Morocco, El Jadida has a district also called Mellah. This address designates the place where Jews, Muslims and Europeans reside since their arrival on the territory, and until today. The Mellah district of El Jadida is framed by walls. These were built in order to delimit the district from the rest of the city. A tourist stroll in this part of El Jadida is an opportunity to learn everything about the old Mazagan, its glorious past and its inexhaustible cultural gems.
El Jadida is full of historical wonders, but the Portuguese Cistern is a moj data particularly unusual site. Located in the heart of the city, precisely on the main artery, this center of interest welcomes you in a completely exotic atmosphere with its underground space marked by medieval vaults.
The Portuguese Cistern of El Jadida is full of history. It was built in 1541 and served as a weapons room. In 1717, a Jewish merchant, while tearing down the wall of his shop, discovered this underground reservoir for the first time. Since then, the Portuguese Cistern has become one of the must-see sites in El Jadida. In addition to being an unrivaled tourist spot, it is also very popular with local and international directors.
Fascinating, the Portuguese Cistern is decorated with a Gothic vault, imposing stone columns and a circular opening measuring 3.5m in diameter. Once inside this place, travelers will discover breathtaking natural lighting. Like diamonds, the rays reflecting on the ground of the place produce a spectacular effect.
Tazotas
In the hinterland of El Jadida, about 90 km from Casablanca, there are several dry stone huts, known as "tazotas". Unique in their kind, these buildings are devoid of mortar and delimited on a well-defined space. They belong to the population of the Doukkala-Abda region and are marked by lithic landscapes. The tazotas of El Jadida bear witness to the great know-how of the peasants of this region of Morocco. According to history, these small constructions with original architecture were built during the off-season of agricultural activities in this countryside. These traditional shelters protected the inhabitants from the heat or wild animals. Other tazotas were also used as granaries or warehouses for hay, straw or fattening cattle. Visiting this part of El Jadida will allow backpackers to better understand the past of the city and the cultural wealth of its former residents.