12 Fun Facts about Morocco

Morocco is the westernmost country in the Arab world. Morocco’s history and the scenery is characterised by its rugged mountainous interior, large tracts of desert and a lengthy coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Here are 12 fun facts about Morocco:

Moroccans are the original travel writers
The Kasbah of the Udayas is an incredible city within a city
Morocco served as a literary sanctuary for many foreign writers, including Americans William S. Burroughs, Paul Bowles, Brion Gysin, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Tennessee Williams. Perhaps the most famous of them, Paul Bowles made his home in Morocco for more than 50 years.
Moroccans love couscous so much, come Friday, it’s the only thing on the menu at many restaurants.
Did you know that Morocco is an African country with a very young population? Most of its inhabitants, no more and no less than around 70%, are under the age of 30.
Morocco is the top tourist destination in all of Africa. Each year it receives more than 10 million tourists.
The blue houses of Chaouen are famous for their striking colour. Do you know why they are blue? Jewish refugees painted them this colour because they believed it kept the mosquitoes away.
We all know that the largest film set in the world is in Hollywood. However, what you might not have known is that the second largest is in Morocco. Films that have been shot here include Prince of Persia, Sahara and The Mummy.
Äid al-Kebir (Big Festival) is the biggest holiday in Morocco, and elsewhere in the Muslim world, it is called Eid al-Adha. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-hijja, the month during which Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
If you are invited into a Moroccan home, don’t forget to take off your shoes. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see statues or paintings on the walls, this is customary in the homes of religious Moroccans.
Green tea is the most popular drink in the country. One piece of advice: if you are offered tea, never refuse.
If there is one thing in Morocco, its Palace’s. One which is a must-see is the Villa Majorelle, a jewel of a palace built 90 years ago by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and later bought by the designer Yves Saint Laurent.