Many travelers wonder what Agadir’s medina is, searching for the old town of this Atlantic city. But after scanning the map or strolling through the center, a question arises: Does Agadir have a medina? In this post, we answer that and you’ll discover that its history and tourism hold the answer.
A little context
As we explained in this post, the medinas of Morocco and the Arab world in general are the ancient medieval cities, usually walled and with a labyrinthine street layout. Over time and with subsequent development, they have become the historical center of these cities and are a strong tourist attraction in each destination.
But the same is not true here: one cannot speak of an “Agadir medina” because it succumbed, like the rest of the city’s neighborhoods, to the 1960 earthquake. The entire city was devastated, and it is estimated that about 15,000 people died in the earthquake, according to some sources. A large part of the traditional buildings and even the more recent ones were destroyed: between 60% and 90%, according to other data.
That is why there is no medina in Agadir, unlike other cities that, despite the vicissitudes of time (including some earthquakes), have been able to preserve their historic center, in the heart of the current city, where the pulse of traditions and religious life remains.
Polizzi’s Medina in Agadir
Aware of the appeal of medinas and Agadir’s growing tourist vocation in recent decades, it was decided to build a medina from scratch. Logically, it would no longer be a central neighborhood around which local life revolved, but it could have the capacity to revive traditional crafts and attract tourism. And so it has.
This ambitious project was entrusted to an Italian-Moroccan architect named Coco Polizzi, which is why it is often known as Polizzi’s medina. In this 4-hectare project, the constructions would have a distinctly traditional style, using materials traditionally employed here ( brick, local rocks, wood), decorative elements used by Berber masters, and a system of streets with turns, passages, and an irregular layout. However, all of this would adhere to the hygiene and sanitation standards of the modern era.
And the result was most surprising, evocative… and successful, as it is currently one of the most visited areas by international travelers: both for what they find here and because it is, so to speak, a very Instagrammable place.
What’s there and how to visit it?
Inside this surprising modern medina, you’ll find two major leisure attractions: hospitality and craft shops. Regarding hospitality, there are places to have a drink in a relaxed atmosphere, especially outdoors. As for crafts, the variety is greater, as shops and workshops of artisans who work here and sell their pieces directly are spread throughout the enclosure, which helps maintain traditional techniques, often with a modern touch.
Agadir’s medina is located in the south of the city: although it is on the other side of the city’s major premium tourism hub (its marina), it is situated in another truly exclusive setting: the mouth of the Souss River, where the city’s main golf courses are concentrated.
Agadir’s medina is an enclosed area for which an entrance fee is charged, with a drink included, which helps maintain tranquility and security in this space that closes its doors at dusk.
