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Tour Information
Safi Pottery Tour
Safi One-Day Tour: A Potters Paradise by the Sea - Unearth Morocco's Ceramic Capitol in a Day
The Rich History and Pottery Traditions of Safi
Safi, a coastal gem on Morocco's Atlantic shore, boasts a history as colorful as its renowned ceramics. Dating back to the 11th century, this ancient city has been shaped by various civilizations, including Almohad, Portuguese, and Alaouite influences. Safi's strategic location made it a vital port for trade, but it's the city's pottery tradition that truly sets it apart. For centuries, Safi has been celebrated as Morocco's pottery capital, with its distinctive blue and white ceramics recognized worldwide. The city's master potters, known as maâlems, have passed down their skills through generations, creating intricate designs that reflect the region's rich cultural heritage. Today, Safi's pottery continues to be a source of pride and a testament to the enduring artistry of its people.
Duration: 9:00am - 6:00pmMorocco Travel: In Luxury 4x4
English, French Speaking Driver, Guide
Starting & Finishing Point: Your Hotel In Marrakech
Journey from Marrakech to Safi
Detailed Itineary
- After breakfast you will head out to the quiet Moroccan town of located in Western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. A journey to Safi guarantees a serene escape from Marrakech and a relaxing day by the sea.
- A large town with a population of over 300,000, Safi is the perfect place to get a feel of a modern Moroccan industrial center at work. Explore the major sardine processing **port **which has been functioning since the 16th century and see the phosphate exports which contribute to the growth of the fishing industry.
Exploring Safi's Historic Medina
- Visit the old medina in the center of the town. Here traces of history from when the Portuguese occupied Safi can still be found. The industrial-artisan area is shaped like a triangle, with its widest side facing the coast.
- Browse through a whole quarter of pottery shops on Rue du Souk. Enter through Bab Chaaba or the Gate of the Valley and be overwhelmed with the area's heavily glazed green palace and mosque rooftops.
- Next door explore the Portuguese citadel or Kechla, originally a cathedral built by the Portuguese in 1519. Nearby is a mosque, 18th century garden and a national museum that houses traditional and modern ceramics from Safi, Fes,Meknes and pieces by Boujmaa Lamali.
Culinary Delights and Afternoon Attractions
- Enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the delicious restaurants at Place de I' Independence. Try the famous crayfish.
- After lunch visit Safi favorites such as the Dar el Bahar, a small fortress overlooking the sea and then the Colline des Potiers, the famous potters quarter where you can find the best priced and most beautiful pottery in Safi. Other points of interest include the Jewish synagogue on Avenue Zerktouni and if you are Muslim you can enter two important Sufi shrines, the Marabout Sidi Bou Dheb and the Zaouia of Hamidouch.
Return Journey to Marrakech
- On the return to Marrakesh enjoy a quick stop at the Kasbah Hamidouch, part of the system of fortified outposts built by Moulay Ismail.
- Visit the mosque, stroll by charming ruined buildings and visit the village shops, houses and an old chapel. Drive back passing through the Chaidma region, the land inhabited by the holy Regara Berbers, descendants of the seven apostles of Islam.
