ABOUT: CASABLANCA Casablanca, a city of many faces, Oriental yet also modern. From a former Berber settlement to today's commercial metropolis. Around eighty per cent of Moroccan industry is concentrated in Casablanca, the country's financial, technological and commercial centre and also Africa's largest seaport. Jutting into the sea is the Hassan The Second Mosque. 'It was He who created Heaven and Earth in six days!' This paragraph from the Koran inspired Hassan The Second to build his momentous mosque that extends for nine hectares, a superlative construction that could comfortably accommodate the entire Petersdom in Rome. Casablanca is a large city surrounded by many ancient villages where life has changed little since ancient times. The Place Mohammed The Fifth is the centre of Casablanca and is located between the old Medina and the new town with its large residential districts. Several administrative buildings, mosques and Art Deco buildings are situated in the vicinity of the Place Mohammed and there's also a pedestrian-only shopping mall. The head offices of numerous banks, insurance and commercial companies are located within the modern and flamboyant city centre with its imposing skyscrapers. The souks contain a labyrinth of alleys and each usually has its own speciality. The souks are the perfect place for those who wish to experience typical Morocco as the aromas and sounds of their narrow alleys are far more descriptive than any travel guide. Casablanca captivates all those who experience it. This former coastal city of seafarers and pirates is today both lively and contemporary with all the atmosphere and flair of a bygone time.