“Sakala” in Casablanca is considered one of the most famous tourist places in the economic capital, which visitors and celebrities are keen to visit and take pictures inside, as it has turned from being an ancient historical and cultural monument to an upscale restaurant serving Moroccan food in its midst. Where you can taste the hot and delicious Moroccan “sfinge” for breakfast, and various dishes known on the Moroccan table such as couscous, “pastila”, “saffa” and all kinds of frying pans.
The name “Saqala” has its origins in Italy, although its meanings are different in different dictionaries. Some scholars believe that the name is taken from the Turkish language, it is either derived from the word scaffale which is a musical instrument, or from the word “Skala” which means reed facing the sea, which is the most likely meaning. The historian of Nazareth mentioned it as one of the exploits left by Sultan Mehmed III when he wrote, “And the city of Anfa (meaning Casablanca), its mosque, bath, balconies and towers…”
Portugal built “Sakala”, overlooking the port of Casablanca, in the 18th century, as a camp and fortress to attack the city during the Berber era. The site was completely destroyed in the earthquake that struck Blanca before the Alawite sultan Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, who also built a “scaffold” in Essaouira, ordered its restoration in 1769, to make it a center for defending the city against Portuguese attacks of all kinds. of attempts to occupy from the sea.
The “Sakala”, surrounded by the old city walls, adjoining the Derkaouia Corner and the Mausoleum of Sidi Allal El Karouani, is distinguished by its architectural beauty, where Andalusian and Portuguese architecture mix, and by its height. The fences and cannons facing the ocean, the fountains and the arched gates that the French administration insisted on preserving and maintaining during the period of protection because they are a reflection of the history and civilization of the former Moroccan state.
The “Saqala” fortress, classified as a human heritage by UNESCO, has been marginalized and neglected for years, and its walls have eroded and become a danger to passers-by, residents nearby, and tourists wishing to explore this monument. Only to be transformed into a restaurant and tourist attraction it has managed to maintain despite criticism.
