Atlantic Coast - Morocco - page 423

Cité Portugaise
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El-Jadida's main sight, the Cité Portugaise (Portuguese city), is a compact maze of twist-
ing streets, surrounded by ochre ramparts. The main entrance is just off Pl Mohammed
ben Abdallah and leads into Rue Mohammed Ahchemi Bahbai. Immediately on the left is
the Portuguese-built Church of the Assumption OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , which was being
restored at the time of research and will open as an upmarket hotel. Almost next door is
the Grande Mosquée OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , which has a unique pentagonal-shaped min-
aret; it originally acted as a lighthouse.

HISTORIC SITE

Citerne Portugaise
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HISTORIC BUILDING

(Portuguese Cistern; Rue Mohammed Ahchemi Bahbai; admission incl entry to ramparts Dh20;
9am-1pm & 3-6.30pm) On the main street past the souvenir shops is a vast, vaulted cistern lit
by a single shaft of light. The spectacularly tranquil spot, with a thin film of water on the
floor reflecting a mirror image of the vaulted ceiling and elegant columns, was originally
used to collect water. It is famous as the eerie location for the dramatic riot scene in Orson
Welles' 1954 Othello .

Porte de la Mer
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(admission free; ramparts 9am-6pm) Further down the street are the ramparts with the Porte
de la Mer, the original sea gate where ships unloaded their cargo, and from where the Por-
tuguese finally departed. To the left of the gate, through the archway, is one of the town's
communal bakeries OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP , where local women bring their bread to
be baked.
To the right of the sea gate, a ramp leads up to the windy ramparts and Bastion de L'Ange
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP (southeast corner), an excellent vantage point with views out to
sea and over the new town and port. Walk along the ramparts to the left to reach Bastion de
St Sebastian OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP (northeast corner), from where you can see the old
Jewish cemetery. Next to the bastion is the abandoned synagogue OFFLINE MAP

LANDMARK

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(originally the old prison) with its Star of David.

Beaches

BEACH