Private Casablanca tours 

Exclusive Tours and Shore Excursions in Casablanca.

The story of Casablanca begins in the 6th century BC when the Phoenicians established a small trading post in the suburb of Anfa. By the 7th century AD, Anfa had become a regional capital under the control of the Barghawata, a confederation of Berber tribes. However, in 1188, the Almohads destroyed Anfa, and seventy years later, the Merenids took over leadership of the area.

In the early 15th century, the port transformed into a refuge for racketeers and pirates. The threat posed by the pirates of Anfa escalated to such an extent that, by the latter part of the century, the Portuguese dispatched over 50 ships and 10,000 men to eliminate them, leaving Anfa in ruins. Despite this destruction, local tribes continued to terrorize trade routes, provoking a second Portuguese attack in 1515. Finally, sixty years later, the Portuguese returned to the region, establishing a permanent presence and erecting fortifications, renaming the port Casa Branca (White House).

In 1755, the Portuguese abandoned the colony following a devastating earthquake that severely compromised the fortification walls of Casa Branca. The Sultan, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah, resettled and fortified Casa Blanca, yet it never regained its former significance. By 1830, the population had dwindled to just 600 inhabitants.

As the mid-1800s approached, interest in Morocco surged in Europe, driven by the demand for wool and grain. The fertile lands surrounding Casablanca began supplying European markets, leading traders to return to the city. Merchants from Spain renamed the city Casablanca, and at the dawn of the 20th century, the French constructed an artificial harbor.

While the uptick in trade ushered in prosperity for Casablanca, it also bred resentment towards European influence. In 1907, tensions erupted when Europeans desecrated a Muslim cemetery, prompting the French to seize the opportunity to send troops to quell the unrest. A French warship later bombarded the town. By 1912, Casablanca had become part of the new French protectorate.