Quality Holidays For Single Parent Families

Single Parent Holiday - Sample Itinerary

This page contains useful information about Morocco, its history and culture that we hope you will find useful and interesting.

Morocco Information

A BRIEF HISTORY
The history of the region comprising present-day Morocco has been shaped by the interaction of the original Berber population and the various foreign peoples who successively invaded the country.

The first of the foreign invaders well known to history were the Phoenicians who in the 12th century BC, established trading posts on the Mediterranean coast of the region. These colonies were later taken over and extended by the Carthaginians. The conquest of Carthage by the Roman Empire, in the 2nd century BC, led to Roman dominance of the Mediterranean coast of Africa. About AD 42, the northern portion of what is now Morocco was incorporated into the Roman Empire as the province of Mauretania Tingitana.

In the Germanic invasions that attended the decline of the Roman Empire, the Vandels in 429 occupied Mauretania Tingitana. The Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandals in 533 and established the rule of the Byzantine Empire in parts of the country.

Byzantine rule was ended by the Arabs, who invaded Morocco in 682 in the course of their drive to expand the power of Islam. Except for the Jews, the inhabitants of Morocco, both Christian and pagan, soon accepted the religion of their conquerors. Berber troops were used extensively by the Arabs in their subsequent subjugation of Spain.

The first Arab rulers of the whole of Morocco, the Idrisid dynasty, held power from 789 to 926. The Idrisids were succeeded by other dynasties, both Arab and Berber. Among the most notable were the dynasties of the Almoravids, from 1062 to 1147, and the Akmohads, from 1147 to 1258. Under the latter, Morocco became the centre of an empire that embraced modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and large areas of Spain and Portugal.

The Almohad Empire began to disintegrate after the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, in which the Spanish defeated the Moroccans. By mid-century its power was gone. A period of disorder and almost incessant civil war between Berbers and Arabs followed. Rulers of various dynasties reigned briefly and ineffectually over parts of the country. In 1415 Portugal captured the port of Ceuta. This intrusion initiated a period of gradual extension of Portuguese and Spanish power over the Moroccan coastal region.

Morocco experienced a revival under the Saadians, known as the first Sharifian dynasty (1554-1660). The Moroccans inflicted a severe defeat on the Portuguese in 1578, and by the end of the 17th century they had regained control of most of their coastal cities. The reign (1579-1603) of Ahmed I al-Man-sur is regarded as the golden age of Morocco. The country benefited enormously from the influx of nearly a million Moors and Jews who were expelled from Spain after 1492. It was unified and relatively prosperous; its native arts and architecture flourished.

The Saadians were succeeded by the second Sharifian dynasty, who has ruled since 1660. This dynasty reached its peak in the reign of Ismail al-Hasani (reigned 1672-1727). Al-Hasani’s reign was followed by a long period of disorder, which was punctuated with brief interludes of relative peace and prosperity.

CULTURE

Situated on the northwestern-most corner on the continent of Africa, Morocco historically has been the pathway for the migration of ideas and cultural exchange between East and West. Within its borders, Morocco offers a rich diversity of landscapes and cultures: the Mediterranean Andalusian coast, the Islamic imperial cities, the mountain Berber trips, and the desert Bedouin oases. Renowned for its spirit of hospitality and long-lived friendship, Morocco is an ideal location to explore the rich cultures of Islam, Africa, and colonial Europe.

Morocco has a rich and a varied cultural and civilizational heritage. Every region has its special values and characteristics and contributes to development of this heritage.

AGADIR

With over 340 days of sunshine a year, it is no wonder that Agadir, situated on the southern part of the Morocco's Atlantic coastline, has become the country's number one tourist centre. In a country full of exotic flavour, it’s a pleasant place to put your feet up and enjoy the comforts and services of a Western-style tourist resort.

The beach, together with the weather, forms the main attraction for thousands of sun worshippers, who come especially in the winter months to escape the cold and gloom of northern Europe. Around this, a resort town with restaurants, bars, cafés, modern, comfortable hotels and a broad range of water sports has developed. Agadir can thank its modern look,in part, to the rapid development of this tourist industry, but also to the powerful earthquake that destroyed much of the old town in 1960.

SHOPPING

SOUK EL HAD

This labyrinth of 3500 different stores is a main attraction of Agadir. Inside you will be able to wander for hours with maybe a drink of mint tea while sampling the delights of Morocco.

Making your way through the warrens of the Souk Al Had Agadir, you might fancy dropping into Art-du-Desert.  If it’s Moroccan art, jewelry, carpets or leather that you’re after, this is the place to be.

EXCURSIONS AND SIGHTSEEING

• Agadir City Tour.
   
• The Cascades of Imouzzer des ida Outanane – An area of outstanding beauty, of high peaks, gorges, cliffs, flora and fauna and an oasis of date palms.
   
• African coast by Catamaran – A day on the ocean waves, anchoring for lunch, a swim if you fancy, try your hand at fishing or just simply laze around.
   
• Ecotourism – A delightful way to spend a few hours astride a horse or camel
   
• Marrakech – An opportunity to visit the Imperial City of Marrakech, the city that gave Morocco its name. (Full details available in resort).
   
• Tafraout – A scenic trip south, a day out for all the budding photographers.  The scenery on this tour is quite awesome. (Full details available in resort).
   
• Les Folies Berberes – An evening of fun, suitable of all the family.  Join in with the musicians and sample some Berber cuisine.

Many activities are available: golf, sailing, tennis, Jet Ski, scooters, windsurfing, surfing and a beach of fine golden sand over ten kilometers long.

FOOD & DRINK
Unlike the herb-based cooking across the sea to the north, Moroccan cooking is characterized by rich spices. Cumin, coriander, saffron, chiles, dried ginger, cinnamon, and paprika are on the cook's shelf.

Couscous, (granular semolina), is central to Moroccan cuisine and is often cooked with spices, vegetables, nuts, and raisins. It makes a meal in itself or is topped with rich stews and roasted meats. Lamb is a principal meat -- Moroccan roasted lamb is cooked until tender enough to be pulled apart and eaten with the fingers, it is often topped with raisin and onion sauces, or even an apricot puree. Meat and fish can be grilled, stewed, or cooked in an earthenware tagine (the name for both the pot and the dish).

Savory foods are enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh -- apricots, dates, figs, and raisins, to name a few. Lemons preserved in a salt-lemon juice mixture bring a unique face to many Moroccan chicken and pigeon dishes. Nuts are prominent; pine nuts, almonds, and pistachios show up in all sorts of unexpected places. Moroccan sweets are rich and dense confections of cinnamon, almond, and fruit perfumes that are rolled in filo dough, soaked in honey, and stirred into puddings.