Travel Info: Visiting Morocco

» Morocco's capital city is Rabat, and its largest city is the modern port of Casablanca. Other cities include Agadir, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Oujda, Ouarzazat, Safi, Tangier, Tiznit, Sale and Tan Tan. Morocco is the third most populous Arab country, after Egypt and Sudan. Most Moroccans are Sunni Muslims of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber stock. The Arabs invaded Morocco in the 7th and 11th centuries and established their culture there. Morocco's official language is classical Arabic. The country's distinctive Arabic dialect is called Moroccan Arabic.

Capital: Rabat
Offical Language: Arabic
Area: 446,550  SQ KM
Population: 31,689,267
Currency: Dirham ( MAD )
Calling Code: +212

» Culture of Morocco: Morocco is a country of multi-ethnic groups with a rich culture and civilization. Through Moroccan history, Morocco hosted many people coming from both East (Berbers, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs), South (Africans) and North (Romans, Vandals, Moors and Jews). All those civilizations should have an impact on the social structure of Morocco. It conceived all forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism, Christianity to Islam. Each region possesses its own specificities, contributing, thus, to the making of national culture and to the civilization legacy. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its legacy and the preservation of its cultural identity. The traditional dress for men is called djellaba ; a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called tarbouche and mostly refered to as Fez . Nearly all men wear baboosh —those soft leather slippers with no heel, often in yellow. Many women do as well but others wear high-heeled sandals, often in silver or gold tinsel.

» Morocco is a North African country inhabited mostly by Arabs along with Berbers and other minorities. Its music is predominantly Arab, but Andalusian and other imported influences have had a major effect on the country's musical character. Rock-influenced chaabi bands are widespread, as is trance music with historical origins in Muslim music. Music is played everywhere in Morocco, from the muezzin which call the people to prayer to popular music being played at markets, music festivals (moussem) and performers at cafes.

» Moroccan Cuisine: The main Moroccan dish most people are familiar with is couscous which is of very old and is probably of Berber origin. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is lamb. The breed of sheep in North Africa has much of its fat concentrated in its tail. This means that Moroccan lamb does not have the pungeant, reasty flavor that Western lamb and mutton can have. Among the most famous Moroccan dishes are Couscous, Pastilla, Tajine, Tangia. Although Harira is a soup, it is considered as a dish in itself.