El Jadida

El Jadida or al-Jadida (Arabic:الجديدة, Berber: ⴰⵍ-ⵊⴰⴷⵉⴷⴰ, French: el-Jadida) --with former names Cap Soleis,Portus Rutilis,Rusibis,Mazighen (Arabic:مازيغن, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⵉⴳⴻⵏ),(p240)(p128)(p71)al-Breyja (Arabic:البريجة),Mazagão (Arabic:مازاگاو, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⴰⴳⴰⵡ),al-Mahdouma (Arabic:المهدومة), and Mazagan (Arabic:مازاگان, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⴰⴳⴰⵏ)-- is a port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, located 100 km south of the city of Casablanca, in the province of El Jadida and the region of Casablanca-Settat. It has a population of 194,934 (2014 census).

From the sea, El Jadida's old city has a very "un-Moorish" appearance because of its massive Portuguese-built walls of hewn stone, one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. The Portuguese Fortified City of Mazagan was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, on the basis of its status as an "outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures" and as an "early example of the realisation of the Renaissance ideals integrated with Portuguese construction technology". According to UNESCO, the most important buildings from the Portuguese period are the cistern, and the Manueline Church of the Assumption.

The city, and particularly its neighboring town of Sidi Bouzid, becomes extremely busy in the summer season with an influx of mainly Moroccan holiday-makers. Nearby is the five-star resort complex of Mazagan, which attracts some middle class Moroccans as well as many international visitors from the Arabian Peninsula as well as from Europe and beyond. Mazagan complex has a golf course designed by Gary Player, casino, nightclub and restaurants. Between Mazagan complex and El Jadida is the Pullman Hotel, attached to which is Royal Golf El Jadida, another 18-hole course. The presence of nearby ports and factories is responsible for the pollution of El Jadida's beaches.

The city is expanding as of 2014, partly as a result of increased activity at the nearby Jorf Lasfar port and its industrial...