Assilah is located in a plain close to a hill around the sea of the atlantic coast in the north of Morocco, 46 kms south of Tangier. In the long history of the city phoenicians, romans, Idris followers, norman pirates, Merenids followers, portuguese and spaniards have taken part.

The old side of the city comprises of a labyrinth of small alleys with typical white houses. Around the old town, there is the city wall with three doors: The earth door, the sea door and the kasbah door.

Nowadays the city is well known mainly because of the long fine-sanded beaches and its international cultural festivals. At the same time, the port, which has been refurbished recently, has a tourist and fishing use. The city has its main income in fishing and tourism, and it is also part of the main circuits of the legate Andalusi, as the national road goes from Larache to Tangier.

The Spanish presence is appreciated in the architecture and the town planning of the new city, whilst the medina represents the typical local architecture and it is also the place chosen for the cultural, artistic festivals that take place in Assilah.

Overview