What does Casablanca mean?

What does Casablanca mean?

What does Casablanca mean?: Casablanca (? addar al-baïda in classical Arabic – dar beïda in Moroccan dialect – literally “white house”) is Morocco’s largest city. The country’s economic capital, it is located on the Atlantic coast some 80 km south of the capital, Rabat. It is the country’s largest city and agglomeration in terms of population.

Etymology:

Casablanca owes its name to the fact that Spanish sailors once identified it by a small white house perched on the hill of Anfa, “La Casa Bianca”. One thing led to another, and with the local idioms, it eventually became Casablanca.

History:

The name Anfa is found in 11th-century texts, dating its foundation (by the Zénètes) back to this period. Leon the African also mentions it as a small town in the 15th century. In retaliation, the Portuguese, at the end of the century, decided to attack it, 50 ships and 10,000 men in charge. Anfa’s inhabitants, unable to defend the town, abandoned it for Rabat and Salé. The town was destroyed and remained uninhabited for three centuries.

In 1770, Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdallah decided to rebuild the town to protect it from a landing by the Portuguese, who had just lost the town of Mazagan (El Jadida). The town was named Dar El Beida (white house or casa blanca in Spanish). From the outset, the Sultan endowed it with a mosque, a medersa and a hammam.

Casablanca, Morocco

From the 19th century onwards, the city grew thanks to the boom in the textile industry, with Casablanca becoming a major supplier of wool. In 1860, Casablanca had a population of 4,000, rising to 9,000 by the end of the 1880s. With the help of France, the city decided to build a modern port, dethroning Tangiers as Morocco’s leading port in 1906. By 1921, the city’s population had risen to 110,000, largely due to slums.

In June 1907, the French developed the rail network near the port, but it ran through a cemetery, resulting in riots between French workers and residents. France sent troops to restore order, took control of the town and began the process of colonization. During the 1940s and 1950s, numerous anti-occupation riots took place, including an attack on Casablanca’s central market on Christmas Day 1953 (18 dead).

Meanwhile, Casablanca was a strategic port during the Second World War, when it hosted the Casablanca Conference (Anglo-American summit in 1943).
On March 2, 1956, France recognized Morocco’s independence, and the city developed tourism and became the country’s economic hub (although Rabat remained the capital).

What does Casablanca rentals mean?: Casablanca, Morocco

The city’s recent history has been marked by a series of terrorist attacks. The most deadly of these were on May 16, 2003, when 45 people were killed[1] and around a hundred injured, with links to Al-Qaeda. In 2007, Casablanca was again hit by a series of suicide bombings, including an Internet cafe on March 11; three more in the Farah district on April 10[2]; and on April 14, two men blew themselves up in Moulay-Youssef. Their objective was unknown, as there were three potential targets: the Belgian consulate, an American cultural center and a synagogue.

Geography and urbanization:

The metropolis is bounded by the sea to the west, but extends increasingly to the north, east and south. It is also marked by a high concentration of shantytowns on its outskirts, prompting the government to launch policies aimed at completely eliminating this phenomenon, which is still eating away at the city by 2012.

Casablanca’s urbanization and architecture are marked by a variety of styles, from neo-Moorish to art-deco, since for several decades it was a “laboratory city” for the world’s great architects. On the other hand, the city has seen a proliferation of gigantic projects, such as the Hassan II mosque (in the 1980s) and the “Marina de Casablanca”, and seems to be attracting more and more real estate investors.

Neighborhoods:

Hay hassani
Belvedere
Ancienne Medina
Ain Chock
Anfa
Californie
Maârif
Sidi Maârouf
Derb sultane
Derb Ghallef
Hay Mohammadi
Ain diab
Les Roches Noires
Bourgogne
Aïn Sebaâ
Oasis
Polo
Palm trees
Gauthier
Sidi Moumen
Oulfa
Alia 1 and 2
Zenata
Hay Al Qods
Racine

What does Casablanca mean?: Population:

At the last census in 2004, Casablanca had a population of 2,949,805 [3], making it the most populous city in North Africa, ahead of Algiers (2,029,936) [4]. The Greater Casablanca region, including the cities of Mohammedia (120,000 inhabitants), Ain Harrouda and the two provinces of Médiouna and Nouaceur, has a population of around 3.6 million (2005) [5], covering 1,615 km² [6].

Economy:

Casablanca is the economic capital of Morocco [7]. It alone employs 46% of the country’s working population. It is the country’s leading industrial hub, financial center and port area. In fact, the region accounts for 54% of the country’s industrial output. It has one of Africa’s biggest ports. Fifty-five percent of Morocco’s air traffic comes from its airport alone. [6].

What does Casablanca mean?: Transportation:

The city is bypassed by a ring road comprising twelve gates (Bab sultan, bab Nouasser, bab Marrakech, bab Tanger, bab des Nations, bab el Haroudda, bab Jerma, bab la corniche, bab Médiouna, bab Franca, bab Mohammed V and bab El Maghreb) and three bypasses (rocade est, rocade ouest and Aïn Haroudda). Public transport accounted for only 14% in 2004, compared with 18% in 1976, a decline attributable to the local authorities, who have no policy in this area. The Casa 2010 plan calls for a mass transit network comprising a metro line, three tramway lines and an RER line. This network could see the light of day in 2015 or 2020.

Casablanca is served by the Al Bidaoui regional express rail network (RER), comprising seven stations, including two new ones inaugurated in early July 2006. The Urban Transport Plan finalized in 2006 provides for the construction of 3 tramway lines and 1 metro line as part of the Casa 2010 project.

Casablanca is served by the largest airport in Morocco and the Maghreb, Mohamed V – Nouasser International Airport, located nearly 30 km from the city center. Served by 45 airlines and linked to 70 international destinations, the airport handled over 5 million passengers in 2006. A new terminal under construction will increase the airport’s capacity to 10 million passengers in 2007.

Sports:

The city is bidding to host the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

What does Casablanca mean?: Soccer:

Wydad de Casablanca (in red), abbreviated WAC (Moroccan champions for the 2006 season and 16 times)
Raja de Casablanca (in green), abbreviated RCA (winner of the Arab Champions League for the 2006 season)
The RCA emblem is the eagle. Its fans come from the working-class districts of Casablanca and some upmarket areas. The WAC emblem is the goose. Its fans come from some of Casablanca’s wealthier neighborhoods, with the addition of the old medina and the city center.

These two clubs have always produced the best players in the national team (Dolmy, Zaki, Bouderbala, Haddaoui, Naybet, Bassir, Dawdi…).
There is a fierce rivalry between WAC and RCA fans. Derby matches are usually exceptional days in Casablanca, given that the main stadium (Mohammed V complex) is right in the city center. This rivalry leads to provocations, resulting in acts of violence between supporters of the two clubs. During regional matches, street brawls break out between the most fervent supporters of each group.

Miscellaneous:

The Hassan II Grand Mosque was built here between 1986 and 1993. After Mecca, it is the second largest mosque in the world, with the world’s tallest minaret (200 m).

The Megarama cinema complex, located in the Ain Diab district, is one of the largest cinemas in Africa, with 15 screens.

What does Casablanca mean?: Places to visit :

Arab League Park and Yasmina Park;
Villa des Arts Museum;
Place Mohammed V: around this square stands the wilaya of Casablanca, whose Tuscan-inspired campanile catches the eye, as well as the Arabo-Andalusian-inspired Palais de Justice and a large fountain;
The medina (Bab Marrakech);
The many “Art Deco” facades, notably along avenue Mohammed V, boulevard 11 janvier etc. ;
The central market;
The corniche and its beaches (Aïn Diab);
Sidi Abderrahman marabout;
Derb Ghallef: a large flea market, a sort of open-air Ali Baba’s cave;
Twin Center: two 22-storey towers;
Festival du Boulevard des jeunes musiciens, Casablanca’s annual music concert festival;
Festival de Casablanca, annual festival organized by the municipality.