Asilah the Andalusian, in Morocco

Asilah, trading post and stronghold

Originally Phoenician, Asilah was an important city in the Mauritanian period, minting coins. The Idrissides established a fortified camp there from the 8th century. It is set on fire by repeated Viking assaults, then restored and fortified by the Sultans of Cordoba, and Asilah becomes a prosperous city.

It was taken by the Portuguese in 1471 by a fleet of five hundred ships, and will remain in their hands until the battle of the three kings, on 4 August 1578, a sort of Poitiers of the Maghreb, which stopped the Portuguese expansion for good. King Sebastian I of Portugal lost his life, as did Sultans Abd el-Malek and Mouataouakil. Asilah then fell into the hands of the Spanish, until its reconquest by Moulay Ismaïl in 1691.

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It will know a second fame at the beginning of the XX° century, the brigand Raïssouli who raged in the region, had obtained in exchange of his collaboration with the power, the caïdat on the region of Tangier. But he was soon driven out of this city, and left for Asilah in 1906. He finally fell at the time of the First World War, where he decided to ally himself with the Germans against the Spanish.

To visit in and around Asilah:

A small Andalusian town enclosed within its monumental ramparts, its old houses with blue and green painted woodwork and elaborate moucharabiehs make its charm. Only three gates allow you to enter the medina, the Sea Gate (Bab el-Bahr) and the Earth Gate (Bab Homar), on either side of the square tower, are still decorated with Portuguese coats of arms. One can also visit the Raïssouli Palace, and a cemetery whose tombs are decorated with zelliges.

Asilah has a beautiful beach, it is also the centre of many cultural events.

Asilah: practical information

Coming to Asilah

Asilah is one hour from Tangier approximately, by road. Also, on weekends, many Spaniards come as neighbours. For a Frenchman, the quickest way is to land in Tangier. He can integrate Asilah in a long descent along the coast, towards El Jadida, Oualidia, who knows until Agadir and Laâyoune….