The Portuguese fortification of Mazagan, now part of the city of El
Jadida, 90-km southwest of Casablanca, was built as a fortified colony
on the Atlantic coast in the early 16th century. It was taken over by
the Moroccans in 1769. The fortification with its bastions and ramparts
is an early example of Renaissance military design. The surviving
Portuguese buildings include the cistern and the Church of the
Assumption, built in the Manueline style of late Gothic architecture.
The Portuguese City of Mazagan - one of the early settlements of the
Portuguese explorers in West Africa on the route to India - is an
outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European
and Moroccan cultures, well reflected in architecture, technology, and
town planning.
The postcard shows the cistern, the most prominent feature of this site. The underground chamber, measuring 34 meters by 34 meters, was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars. The cistern
is famous especially for the thin layer of water that covers the floor,
and which creates fine and exciting reflections from the little light
there is and the spartan shapes of the columns and the roof.
Danke Brigitte, you are one of my main collection contributors :)
As we haven't been in touch for a long while, I hope you are doing well..!
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