"The Romantic City" a Essaouira Travel Page by khalid_2

Essaouira (in Arabic Al Saweera, meaning ´fortress surrounded by ramparts´) was renowned for the production of purple dye during the Roman Empire. It was renamed :Amogdoul after its Berber leader Sidi Mogdoul , and served as an important transit center for merchandise passing from the Souss and the Southern region. In the 15th century Essaouira was renamed once again as Mogador by the Spanish and as Mogador by the French. In the 16th century, Essaouira served as an important site for sugar-cane production and for a large influx of Portuguese immigrants. From the 17th centuries on, various tribes that make up the socially diverse Moroccan population were drawn to Essaouira.

Essaouira is a very calm place,near to Marrakech,many people would be surprised by the differences between this very close cities,with Marrakesh and it's very active panorama,Essaouira is the total opposite.Very calm,and very worm"nothing to do with it's weather :) ", Essaouira fortunatly"or unfortunatly",don't have the same popularity as Marrakesh,although it represent a very good option on a hot marrakshi weekend !
Essaouira Got the calm,and the easy weather for a magic day full of sences and new experiences.
The most important event you can meet in Essaouira is the Gnawa Music Festival,it's a combination of the traditional music of Gnawa and Music of all around the world !
With such a diversity,Essaouira is still a very nice place to discover when you are fed up with the big cities and the great noise !