Morocco

Morocco It is a starting point ideal for the traveller in Africa.

An easy hop from Europe, It can be a friendly place, surprising and stimulating. Markets are piled outdoors across the country with carpet, wood carvings, and jewelry. The first product of the country is the leather, that say that it is the finest in the world.

Morocco has developed a mosaic of artistic traditions. the thread that unites all is music, Classic style that developed in Muslim Spain and musical traditions storytellers of the indigenous Berber through the contemporary fusion of African and French styles. Although most identified with Algeria , the Rai is the musical style with more strength in the cities of Morocco.

 

[singlepic id=14 w=200 h=200 float=right]Despite its Arab-African rhythms (owes much to the Bedouin music), combine electric instruments to create a hypnotic effect. The craftsmanship is important in Morocco. Its leather goods has been appreciated commercially since the 16th century. An equally rich heritage is kept alive in the production of carpets, pottery, jewelry and wood carvings.[singlepic id=16 w=200 h=200 float=left]

Boards painted and sculpted for interior decoration with tiles are still very used in the decoration of interiors in wealthy homes and religious buildings. Morocco has inspired all kinds of artists. The artist Eugenio Delacroix, of the French neo-Baroque , He devoted his painting after visiting Moroccan imagery in 1830. Market scenes, Life of the harem and the hunting of Lion dominated his paintings. A century later Hollywood entered also into a kind of Marruecos-mania.

First with Marlene Dietrich in Morocco. This was followed by Casablanca and later Peter O’Toole as Lawrence of Arabia, the country had become a land of fantasy.[singlepic id=15 w=200 h=200 float=right]

The Moroccan Arabic spoken (darija) It is considerably different from the Arabic spoken in the East. Various dialects of Berber are spoken especially in the field , in the mountains and in the desert. Morocco tends to March to his own Islamic feeling in terms of lifestyle, but also here the men remain firmly dominandolo all. The strict segregation of the sexes in public life can be strange visitors. Moroccan food is good and tasty. The national dish is Couscous, Semolina with vegetables and lamb. Tea is the Moroccan drink par excellence. There is no general prohibition on alcohol.

Official name: Kingdom of Morocco (Al – Mafgreb al – Aqsa) the country’s most distant sunset .

Capital of Morocco : Rabat

Economic city : Casablanca

King of the Kingdom : Mohammed VI

Moroccan currency : Dirham (DH), 100 Dirham ( 10 Euro).

Official language : Arab and Berber

Religion : Islam

Phone code : 00212 to call from abroad to Morocco

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Main festivals :

– Festival of roses, in Kelaat Mgouna (Dades Valley) in may.

– Bethrotal festival in Imilchil (Middle Atlas) in September.

– Festival dates (Erfoud), in October.

– Festival of world sacred music (FEZ) in June.

– Gnawa Festival (Essaouira) in June.

– Cherry Festival (Safrou) in June.

– Fantasy Festival (Meknes) in September.