Our adventure began with our guide Majid and driver Youssef from Premium Transfer and Tours.
We were in a minivan with 12 people from the US and Australia.
Our first stop was Rick’s Cafe. A woman from the US Consulate opened the restaurant in 2004 in an old mansion. Although the movie Casablanca was actually shot in Hollywood in 1942, she thought it would be great to bring Rick’s Cafe to Casablanca.
Our next stop and the highlight of the tour was to the Hamas II Mosque.
The esplanade or outside area of the mosque holds 80,000 people.
The tower known as a minaret is 200 meters tall.
On the sides are a museum, school, and library.
The doors to the mosque are made from titanium brought in from Russia.
Christians, Jews, and Muslims all contributed to building the mosque. It began in 1986 and was completed in 1993. It is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and innovation.
There are 360 pillars and each pillar has a speaker thus there are 360 speakers.
Inside, the prayer hall is 20,000 meters in size and accommodates 25,000 people.
The roof opens in 3 minutes and closes 2-1/2. This is so worshippers can gaze at the stars.
The chandeliers are made in Murano, Italy. They have a device that lowers the chandeliers for lightbulb changes or maintenance.
The king has a special walkway through the prayer hall on which he can only walk. Then he sits in front of all the worshippers.
The mosque has approximately 10 million tourists each year and is the second largest in the world. Some of the intricate details are stunning.
The Ablution Hall is in the basement and it is where worshippers do their ritual washing 3 times starting with the hands. It is all made of marble and there is a side for men and women.
Our next stop was Sacred Heart built in the 1930’s is no longer in use. The number of Catholics have decreased since it is no longer French.
Notre Dame of Casablanca is the Catholic Church still holding services.
They were still holding services when we arrived. The women were dressed formally. It
We stopped at 1001 Nights Cafe and Restaurant for coffee, tea, and pastry.
The cafe was lovely.
There was a rooftop garden with views of city.
We did see these colorful guys out in the square.
Our last stop was a marketplace.
Many pretty carpets but nothing for today!
#casablanca#hamasII#mosque#prayer#carpets#premiertransfersandtours#muslim#morocco
thefouramigosblog 
What an incredible day of exploration! Casablanca seems to offer such a rich mix of history, culture, and stunning architecture. The Hassan II Mosque sounds absolutely breathtaking—especially with the star-gazing roof and Murano chandeliers! Loved the balance of sacred sites and cozy cafe stops. Thanks for taking us along on this beautiful journey!
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It is a lovely city and the tour guide was so knowledgeable. I love it when the tour guide loves his city and willingly shares its gems.
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That makes all the difference, doesn’t it? A passionate guide can really bring a city to life, turning every corner and story into something memorable. It’s wonderful that you got to experience Casablanca through such enthusiastic and knowledgeable eyes—it sounds like a truly enriching day!
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We were in Casablanca this past fall. We tried to have a drink at Rick’s Cafe, but the dress code was business (or maybe business casual), and we weren’t dressed properly so weren’t allowed in! 😊
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We were there before it opened. So much to see that it was just a touristy thing.
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