El Jadida

El Jadida or al-Jadida (Arabic: الجديدة‎; Berber languages: ⵊⴷⵉⴷⴰ), 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.[5][6] It has a population of 220,181 as of 2020.[1]

Ramparts of El Jadida
This article is about the Moroccan city. For the album by Rabih Abou-Khalil, see Al-Jadida (album). For the Palestinian town with a similar name see, see Al-Judeida.
El Jadida / al-Jadida

ⴰⵍ-ⵊⴰⴷⵉⴷⴰ / الجديدة
View from El Jadida
El Jadida / al-Jadida
Location in Morocco
El Jadida / al-Jadida
El Jadida / al-Jadida (Africa)
Coordinates: 33°14′N 8°30′W
CountryMorocco
RegionCasablanca-Settat
ProvinceEl Jadida
Population
 (2019)[1][2][3][4]
 • Total220 181
 • Rank15th in Morocco
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Official namePortuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iv
Designated2004 (28th session)
Reference no.1058
State PartyMorocco
RegionArab States

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.[7] 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,[8] 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 zone.

Names

El Jadida's former names were: Cap Soleis,[9] Portus Rutilis,[10] Rusibis,[10][11][12] Mazighen (Arabic: مازيغن, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⵉⴳⴻⵏ),[13][14][15][16] al-Breyja (Arabic: البريجة),[10] Mazagão (Arabic: مازاگاو, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⴰⴳⴰⵡ),[9][10] al-Mahdouma (Arabic: المهدومة)[9] and Mazagan (Arabic: مازاگان, Berber: ⵎⴰⵣⴰⴳⴰⵏ),[9][10]

Landmarks
  • The Portuguese cistern
  • The Cannons and the Fortress
  • The Old Port
  • The city's beach
  • The Municipal Theater (Mohamed Afifi Theater)
  • The Municipality building
  • The Post building
  • The Great Mosque
  • The Old City
  • The Red Chateau
  • The Lighthouse of Sidi Abou Wafi
  • The equestrian complex

Portuguese cistern
Manueline cistern of the El Jadida fortress.

Expanded since 1514, this former warehouse (possibly an armory) was converted into a cistern in the sixteenth century. The underground chamber, measuring 34 meters by 34 meters, was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars. The cistern is famous especially for the thin layer of water that covers the floor, and which creates fine and ever-changing reflections from the little light there is and the spartan shapes of the columns and the roof. Its visual qualities are such that several movies have been filmed within the cavernous space, of which Orson Welles' Othello is the best known internationally.[17][18]

Fortress of Mazagan

The design of the Fortress of Mazagan is a response to the development of modern artillery in the Renaissance.[19] The star form of the fortress measures c 250m by 300m.[20] The slightly inclined, massive walls are c 8m high on average, with a thickness of 10m, enclosing a patrolling peripheral walkway 2m wide. At the present time the fortification has four bastions: the Angel Bastion in the east, St Sebastian in the north, St Antoine in the west, and the Holy Ghost Bastion in the south. The fifth, the Governor's Bastion at the main entrance, is in ruins, having been destroyed by the Portuguese in 1769. Numerous colonial-era Portuguese cannons are still positioned on top of the bastions.[21]

The fort had three gates: the Seagate, forming a small port with the north-east rampart, the Bull Gate in the north-west rampart, and the main entrance with a double arch in the centre of the south rampart, originally connected to land via a drawbridge. A ditch, c 20m wide and 3m deep, formerly filled with seawater, surrounded the fort. During the time of the French Protectorate the ditch was filled in with earth and a new entrance gate was opened leading to the main street, the Rua da Carreira, and to the Seagate. Along this street are situated the best preserved historic buildings, including the Catholic Church of the Assumption and the cistern.

History
Map of Mazagan created by the US government in 1942.

El Jadida, was first known as al-Breyja when it was seized by the Portuguese in 1502. Then, it became known as Mazagão. The Portuguese built a citadel in 1514, and a larger fortification in 1541.[22] The Portuguese would continue to control the city until 1769, when they abandoned Mazagão, their last territory in Morocco. Upon their forced departure, the Portuguese destroyed the Governor's Bastion and evacuated to the Portuguese colony of Brazil, where they founded a new settlement called Nova Mazagão (now in Amapá).[23] The city was then taken over by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah in 1769 and remained uninhabited, having been dubbed al-Mahdouma (The Ruined). Eventually, Sultan Abd al-Rahman of Morocco ordered that a mosque be built and the destroyed portions of the city rebuilt. The reinvigorated city was renamed al-Jadida, or The New.[24]

Climate
Market, El Jadida, 2012

El Jadida has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa). In winter there is more rainfall than in summer. The average annual temperature in El Jadida is 17.4 °C (63.3 °F). About 372 mm (14.65 in) of precipitation falls annually.[25]

Climate data for El Jadida
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 16.8
(62.2)		 17.5
(63.5)		 19.1
(66.4)		 20.4
(68.7)		 22.3
(72.1)		 24.4
(75.9)		 26.4
(79.5)		 27.9
(82.2)		 25.9
(78.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 20.7
(69.3)		 18.4
(65.1)		 22.0
(71.6)
Average low °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7)		 7.7
(45.9)		 9.3
(48.7)		 10.9
(51.6)		 13.2
(55.8)		 15.9
(60.6)		 17.7
(63.9)		 18.9
(66.0)		 16.9
(62.4)		 14.7
(58.5)		 11.3
(52.3)		 9.0
(48.2)		 12.8
(55.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 49
(1.9)		 48
(1.9)		 41
(1.6)		 32
(1.3)		 16
(0.6)		 4
(0.2)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.0)		 7
(0.3)		 34
(1.3)		 66
(2.6)		 74
(2.9)		 372
(14.6)
Source: climate-data.org

Education

The city houses many post-secondary academic institutions:

Chouaib Doukkali University,[26][27] including the following institutions:

Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor (OFPPT),[34] including the following institutions:

  • Professional Qualification Center (CQP)[35]
  • Specialized Institute of Applied Technology (ISTA) - Al-Massira[36]
  • Specialized Institute of Applied Technology (ISTA) - City-of-the-Air[37]
  • Specialized Institute of Hotel and Tourism Technology (ITHT) - El Haouzia[38] (Outside El Jadida)
  • Institute of Applied Technology (ITA) - Azemmour[39] (Outside El Jadida)

and:

  • Regional Centers for the Professions of Education and Training (CRMEF)[40]
  • Section of "Higher Technician Certificate" (BTS) (at ar-Razi Technical High-School)[41]
  • Section of "Preparatory Classes for Great Schools" (CPGE) (at ar-Razi Technical High-School)[42]
  • Higher Institute of Engineering and Business (ISGA)[43] (private)

Nearby cities

Near El Jadida, are located the city of Azemmour in the northeast and the town of Sidi Bouzid in the southwest. Within a perimeter of around 120 km or less, are located Casablanca, Berrechid, Settat, Sidi Bennour, Oualidia, Youssoufia, Safi.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Morocco

El Jadida is twinned with:

See also

References
  1. "Résultat du RGPH 2014 Casablanca-Settat par région, préfecture, municipalité et commune" (in Arabic and French). Royaume du Maroc - Haut-Comissariat au Plan. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  2. "Indicateurs RGPH2014 - Démographie - Commune : El Jadida" (in French). Royaume du Maroc - Haut-Comissariat au Plan. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. "عدد السكان القانونيين بالمملكة" (PDF). Official Gazette المملكة المغربية - الجريدة الرسمية - النشرة العامة. 6354 (year 104): 4025–4075. 23 April 2015. ISSN 0851-1195.
  4. "POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014" (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. "الجهات و تسمياتها و مراكزها و العمالات و الأقاليم المكونة لها" (PDF). Official Gazette المملكة المغربية - الجريدة الرسمية - النشرة العامة. 6340 (year 104): 1461–1533. 15 March 2015. ISSN 0851-1195.
  6. "المغرب يتبنى تقسيما ترابيا جديدا" (in Arabic and French). المديرية العامة للجماعات المحلية. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. Paula Hardy; Heidi Edsall; Mara Vorhees (2005). Morocco. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-678-1. El Jadida.
  8. "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  9. "Aperçu historique d'El Jadida" (in French). eljadidama.unblog.fr. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  10. Mustapha Jmahri. "El Jadida" (in French). Dar Del Mare. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  11. "Mazagan hier, El Jadida aujourd'hui" (in French). Golf El Jadida. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  12. Bill Thayer (31 January 2010). "Location of Mauritania Tingitana (from the First Map of Libya)". Bill Thayer. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  13. (1154) Hamoudi Husseini Cherif Al-Idrisi, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah ibn Idriss; Tabula Rogeriana. Tabula Rogeriana نزهة المشتاق في اختراق الآفاق. مكتبة الثقافة الدينية. p. 550.
  14. Qadi Ayyadh, Ibn Mussa ibn Ayyadh Sabti; Qadi Abu Abd-Allah, Muhammad Muhammad Ibn Sharifa (1997). مذاهب الحكام في نوازل الأحكام (PDF) (2nd ed.). دار الغرب الإسلامي. p. 346.
  15. (Before 1274) Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi, Abu al-Ḥassan Ali ibn Mussa; (1958) Ginés, Juan Vernet (1958). بسط الأرض في الطول والعرض. Moulay Hassan Institute - Tetuan. p. 141.
  16. مبارك بلقاسم (26 June 2018). "مازيغن هو الاسم الأصلي لمدينة الجديدة المغربية Maziɣen" (in Arabic). Hespress. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  17. "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)". Unesco. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. "Portuguese Cistern of El Jadida". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  19. "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) - UNESCO Advisory Body Evaluation" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  20. "DGPC | Cidade Portuguesa de Mazagão (El Jadida)". www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  21. "Fortress of Mazagan". Starforts. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  22. "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) - World Heritage Site - Pictures, info and travel reports". www.worldheritagesite.org. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  23. Jean Duvignaud, Laurent Vidal (2005). Mazagão, la ville qui traversa l'Atlantique : du Maroc à l'Amazonie, 1769-1783. Paris: Aubier. p. 314. ISBN 2-70072360-0.
  24. "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  25. "Climate El Jadida ⵍⵊⴰⴷⵉⴷⴰ الجديدة". climate-data.org. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  26. "Chouaïb Doukkali University" (in French). 9rayti.co. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  27. "Chouaib Doukkali University" (in Arabic, French, and English). Chouaib Doukkali University. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  28. "Faculty of Science" (in French). Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  29. "Faculty of Letters and Humanities" (in Arabic). Faculty of Letters and Humanities. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  30. "Faculty of Juridical, Economic and Social Sciences" (in French). Faculty of Juridical, Economic and Social Sciences. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  31. "National School of Applied Sciences" (in French). National School of Applied Sciences. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  32. "National School of Business and Management" (in French). National School of Business and Management. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  33. "Superior School of Technology - Sidi Bennour" (in French). Superior School of Technology - Sidi Bennour. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  34. "Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor" (in Arabic, French, and English). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  35. "Professional Qualification Center" (in Arabic, French, and English). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  36. "Specialized Institute of Applied Technology - Al Massira" (in Arabic, French, and English). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  37. "Specialized Institute of Applied Technology - City of the Air" (in Arabic, French, and English). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  38. "Specialized Institute of Hotel and Tourism Technology - El Haouzia" (in French). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  39. "Institute of Applied Technology - Azemmour" (in French). Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  40. "Regional Centers for the Professions of Education and Training" (in French). Regional Centers for the Professions of Education and Training. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  41. "Everything about El Jadida BTS" (in French). inscription.ma. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  42. "2019/2020 CPGE public institutions" (in French). National Center of Pedagogical Innovation and Experimentation. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  43. "Higher Institute of Engineering and Business" (in French). Higher Institute of Engineering and Business. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  44. "Gemellaggi". comune.arenzano.ge.it (in Italian). Arenzano. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  45. "Geminações e Acordos de Cooperação". cm-barcelos.pt (in Portuguese). Barcelos. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  46. "Coopération Internationale". nabeul.gov.tn (in French). Gouvernorat de Nabeul. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  47. "Le jumelage". sete.fr (in French). Sète. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  48. "Geminações e Cooperações". cm-sintra.pt (in Portuguese). Sintra. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  49. "Parcs et sites d'activités". ville.varennes.qc.ca (in French). Ville de Varennes. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  50. "Jumelages". ville-vierzon.fr (in French). Vierzon. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  51. "Tacoma's Sister Cities". cityoftacoma.org. City of Tacoma. Retrieved 2020-11-02.

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