Essaouira

The Moroccan city of Mogador (named after the Muslim saint Sidi Mogdoul, who was buried there in the Middle Ages) has a long and illustrious history extending back over two millennia. The Atlantic coastal city of Essaouira, pronounced 'essa-weera,' is full of small alleys with the intense fragrance of spices, thuya wood, and sea air, indicating that you are in an ancient North African village.

Essaouira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded in the 5th century BC by Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian explorer, and served as a port, a center for the manufacture of purple dye (which colored the purple stripe in Imperial Roman Senatorial dress), and a garrison town for the next two thousand years, but the Essaouira you see today is largely thanks to Mohammed III, who built the fortifications and walled the beautiful town in.

As you walk throughout town, you'll notice influences from Portuguese, French, Berber, Dutch, Jewish, and Muslim cultures, and the town's population was formerly split 50/50 between Jews and Muslims. The city is situated at the intersection of two tribes (the Haha Berbers and the Arab Chiadma), which adds to the city's diverse cultural blend. Today, this colorful city is considered one of the most beautiful historical sites in Morocco.

The fishermen and artisan woodworkers around the harbor are doing what they've always done, and the art scene is as vibrant as it's always been, but if you're a Game of Thrones fan, Essaouira is and will always be Astapor, home of the Unsullied and the southernmost of Slaver's Bay's three city-states.

Location: : Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco.