Things to see in Casablanca

Set 5km (3 miles) from the city centre, in the suburb of Oasis, this truly unique attraction is the only known Jewish museum in a Muslim country. Set in this modern and well-maintained building is a collection of religious books, costumes and sacramental artefacts. In part, the museum is a celebration of the traditional mutual tolerance and acceptance between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Morocco, the latter having reduced substantially since the creation of the State of Israel, but still numbered in the thousands. When Islamic extremists killed 45 people in attacks on mostly Jewish properties and businesses in 2003, it sparked the country's biggest ever protest demonstration, marching under the banner ‘Jews and Muslims; we are all citizens, we are all Moroccans'.

One of the more unusual spots in Casablanca is the shrine of Sidi Abdel Rahman on the edge of the Corniche neighbourhood. Set on a tiny island (at which time pilgrims simply walk across the shallow waters), many Muslims come here to chase out evil jinn spirits. A few merchants and healers live on the island. the nearby beaches are a social meeting point, with families gathering to eat snails and looking for crabs, especially on weekends.

Modelled on the original Casablanca medina, and sometimes known as the 'new medina', the Quartier Habous was constructed by the French during the 1930s. The Habous was supposed to bring French order while preserving Moroccan style, as though to demonstrate the harmonious triumph of occupied life (which came to an end in 1950s). The Moorish-style arches, little lanes and bazaars do a good job of replicating the medina feel. Though there's no substitute for the real thing, it's a good base from which to explore the Royal Palace, and to pick up clothes and traditional pastries.

The medina of Casablanca is the oldest part of the city, dating back to before the French protectorate. Two of the original gates of the old city walls still survive. Other attractions include an 18th-century fortress, a jewellery market, and the tomb of Sidi Allal el-Kairouani, who became the city's patron saint in 1350. The medina has not always been the safest part of the city to walk around, but today its mix of Moorish and Portuguese architecture is compelling, as is the fragment of traditional life that survives here. You'll pass children playing football, stalls piled high with fruit and vegetables, cafes serving mint tea, and little shops of every description. In some ways, this is the most Moroccan-feeling part of Casablanca.