Location

The Portuguese City of El Jadida (Mazagan) is located approximately 90 km southwest of Casablanca and 200 km northwest of Marrakesh, overlooking a beautiful natural bay on the Atlantic coast. As one of the earliest Portuguese settlements in Africa on the historical route to India, the city reflects centuries of cultural exchange between Europe and Morocco. Its distinctive heritage is visible in its architecture, engineering, and urban layout dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Mazagan was originally established as a fortified colony in the early 16th century. The first citadel was constructed in 1514 by Francisco and Diogo de Arruda. Between 1541 and 1548, following plans by the Italian architect Benedetto da Ravenna, Joao Ribeiro and Juan Castillo expanded the structure into a star-shaped fortress, a unique example of Renaissance military design.

The historic district, often referred to as the Old Portuguese City or Mazagão, is sometimes called the Mellah due to the historically significant Jewish community that once lived there. Today, although it represents only a small part of El Jadida, it remains the city’s main cultural and touristic landmark. It stands as a symbol of peaceful coexistence among the three monotheistic religions—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Since 2004, the Portuguese City of Mazagan has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its outstanding universal value and its remarkable state of preservation.