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ASILAH
aBOUT the CITY
Asilah is a quiet coastal town just a few miles south of Tangier. With a perfect natural harbour and delightful beaches, great weather and a thriving cultural scene, it’s sometimes surprising that more travellers don’t know about it. For those in the know, this just adds to the charm.
There is history here – the Phoenicians were the original builders back in 1500 B.C., and in the intervening years it has been controlled by Moroccans, Spanish and Portuguese. It has the same Mediterranean feel as many of the towns in this area with whitewashed buildings and meandering streets, while the large ramparts and fortifications are a gift from its Portuguese rulers.
But it’s the cultural offering that has really put Asilah on the map. There are several festivals throughout the year, and at times the whole town can seem like an art gallery with huge murals decorating the medina walls and painters displaying their work in the streets
selected experiences
ASILAH BEACHES
The main beach at Asilah is a short walk from the town centre. It’s a large expanse of golden sand that curves northwards towards Tangier. It’s very popular with families, especially during the summer months.
A couple of miles south of Asilah is the enticingly named Paradise Beach. It’s a gorgeous spot, accessed along a dirt track so it isn’t as busy as Asilah’s main beach. The bay is sheltered from the wind, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy freshly caught fish, and if you get bored of the sand and sea there are even caves to explore. This is somewhere not to be missed.
And a couple of miles to the north is Afriqua beach. Despite being easier to access than Paradise Beach, it is still a quiet and secluded location. The facilities here include toilets, a café and private sun loungers, perfect for enjoying the abundant Moroccan sunshine.
ASILAH CULTURAL FESTIVALS
The first cultural festivals in Asilah started in the late 1970s, thanks to the efforts of two friends who wanted to bring back the glory to what was then quite a dilapidated town. Over forty years on and Asilah is now a centre for arts and culture in Morocco, with festivals happening throughout the year and arts lovers coming from around the world.
The main event is simply known as the Asilah Festival which lasts for two months of the summer. Artists, musicians and other performers, plus some 200,000 visitors, pour into the town for eight weeks of cultural workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, concerts and even a three day horse festival. The beautiful Centre de Hasan II Rencontres Internationales, just inside the medina walls, hosts the event, with satellite performances happening around the town.
One of the most striking activities is Wall Painting. Every year the ancient walls of the medina are whitewashed to give artists a blank canvas, which they then cover with the most amazing creations. These murals are then left until the following year when the whole process starts again.
ASILAH HERITAGE
There has been a settlement at Asilah since the Phoenicians arrived in the area over 3,000 years ago and decided the curving bay and layout of the land would make a fine place to build a port. Various civilisations over the years have concurred; the Portuguese occupied the city in the 15th and 16th century and in 1692 the famous Moulay Ismail captured Asilah for the Moroccans, turning it into a base for pirates for over two centuries. It then became part of Spanish Morocco in the first half of the 20th century.
Everywhere you look in Asilah you can see the architectural evidence of the past. The Portuguese fortifications are the best preserved in the kingdom – it’s possible to circle the entire town walking along the walls – and the massive towers still stand strong. There are three gates leading to the old town, and if you look closely you can still see the faded Portuguese royal coat of arms emblazoned above the Bab Al Homor gate at the south of the medina.
Asilah still has a Catholic church – St Bartholomew’s – and it’s one of the few places in Morocco you’ll hear church bells calling people to worship every Sunday. The Grand Mosque is in the medina and is one of the few buildings that existed before the Portuguese arrived.
You’ll also find the beautifully restored Palace of Culture in the medina. Originally built in 1909 by Er-Raissouli, a local ruler, it’s a striking building that overlooks the sea and is open to explore during the Asilah Festival.
top hotels in ASILAH
Stars : 
Located in Asilah, Asilah Marina Golf provides accommodations with free WiFi, air conditioning, a restaurant and access to a garden with an outdoor pool. Featuring free private parking, the apartment is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking, fishing and tennis.
The apartment comes with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with pool views.
The apartment has a playground. A car rental service is available at Asilah Marina Golf.
Paradise Beach Kaf Lahmam is 2.7 km from the accommodation. The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 41.8 km from Asilah Marina Golf.
Location : Google Map
Stars :
RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH features a restaurant, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge and garden in Asilah. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The property has a 24-hour front desk, airport transportation, room service and free WiFi.
The guesthouse provides certain rooms that include a patio and pool view, and each room has a private bathroom and a closet. At RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
The accommodation offers a gluten-free or vegan breakfast.
Guests at RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH will be able to enjoy activities in and around Asilah, like hiking and fishing.
Plage de Asilah is a 15-minute walk from the guesthouse. The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, 41.8 km from RIAD OASIS D’ASILAH.
Location : Google Map
Stars :
This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Located in Asilah, Flat Asilah Marina Golf offers an outdoor pool and a restaurant.
Accommodations will provide you with two connected rooms, a TV, air conditioning and a terrace. There is a kitchen with an oven and a refrigerator. Featuring a bath, the private bathroom also come with a bidet.
At Flat Asilah Marina Golf you will find a tennis court and a fitness center. Activities in the surrounding area include golfing, cycling and fishing. The property offers free parking.
Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport is located 21 mi away.
Location : Google Map
Stars : 
Located in Asilah, near Plage de Asilah, Dar Khadija features free WiFi, and guests can enjoy barbecue facilities and a terrace.
Each unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, a seating area with a sofa, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bidet and a hairdryer. An oven and toaster are also provided, as well as a kettle and a coffee machine.
The apartment offers a children’s playground.
If you would like to discover the area, fishing is possible in the surroundings and Dar Khadija can arrange a car rental service.
The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta, 41 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Location : Google Map
Contact us
enquiry@specialmorocco.com
07 rue Tarablous, QI 80000
AGADIR, MOROCCO
+1 763 219 8777 ( US )
+212 698 193 183 ( MOROCCO )
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