Morocco is an African country located on the Atlantic Ocean. A port city of Essaouria is situated in the western part of the country. Essaouria is a French name, in Arabic the city is called As-Sawira. The city’s port used to be called Mogador and in the past it served for international trade purposes and was known for fishing sardines. Today the city invites tourists to see historic cannons, the Jewish district, souk and the old town, which is also called medina. The area is dominated by defensive walls and fortifications over which is towered by a massive, square Portuguese Skala du Port bastion. It is situated on the coast of the ocean and offers a view on the Iles Purpuraires.